Question

How many significant figures should be present in the answer of the following calculations?

(i)

(ii) 5 × 5.364

(iii) 0.0125 + 0.7864 + 0.0215

Answer 1

(i)

Least precise number of calculation = 0.112

Number of significant figures in the answer

= Number of significant figures in the least precise number

= 3

(ii) 5 × 5.364

Least precise number of calculation = 5.364

Number of significant figures in the answer = Number of significant figures in 5.364

= 4

(iii) 0.0125 + 0.7864 + 0.0215

Since the least number of decimal places in each term is four, the number of significant figures in the answer is also 4.