Answer
(a) 4
(b) 2
(c) 5
(d) 2,3 or 4.
(e) 3
(f) 1
(g) 1
(h) 2
Work Step by Step
1. Mark the significant zeros.
- Zeros in the middle of a number.
- Zeros at the end of a number:
* Significant if it is after the decimal point*.
* May or may not be significant if it is before the decimal point. *(OBS)
2. Count the number of non zero numbers and significant zeros. The total is the number of significant figures.
(d) 2900.
We don't know if the zeros in 2900 are significant or not. Thus, it can have 2 signficant figures, if neither of them are significant, 3 significant figures if only one of the zeros is significant, or 4 significant figures if both zeros are significant. Generally, if there is no indication, we assume the lowest (2).
