Significant Figures and Scientific Notation

What are the rules for determining significant figures in a number?

• Trailing zeros are always significant

• All digits are significant

• All non-zero digits are significant. Any zeros between two significant digits are significant. Leading zeros are not significant. Trailing zeros in a number without a decimal point are not significant, but they are significant if the number has a decimal point.

• Leading zeros are significant

Convert 0.0056 to scientific notation.

• 5.6 x 10^-2

• 5.6 x 10^-5

• 5.6 x 10^-4

• 5.6 x 10^-3

Perform the following operation with the correct number of significant figures: 3.25 * 2.1

• 5.0

• 6.9

• 7.0

• 6.8

How many significant figures are in the number 7000?

• 5

• 3

• 1

• 4

Convert 0.00000084 to scientific notation.

• 8.4 x 10^-8

• 8.4 x 10^-7

• 8.4 x 10^-6

• 8.4 x 10^-5

Perform the following operation with the correct number of significant figures: 4.56 / 2.0

• 2.3

• 3.0

• 2.8

• 2.5

What is the rule for determining the number of significant figures in a multiplication or division operation?

• Always use 3 as the number of significant figures in multiplication or division.

• Ignore the significant figures and round to the nearest whole number.

• Count the number of significant figures in the least precise measurement or value involved in the operation.

• Count the number of significant figures in the most precise measurement involved in the operation.

Convert 9200000 to scientific notation.

• 9.2 x 10^5

• 9.2 x 10^6

• 9.2 x 10^7

• 9.2 x 10^4

Perform the following operation with the correct number of significant figures: 8.9 + 6.32

• 8.920

• 15.22

• 14.2

• 15.0

How many significant figures are in the number 0.00340?

• 2

• 4

• 3

• 5