To determine how many significant figures the answer to the problem [tex]\( 532.1 \cdot 101 \)[/tex] will have, follow these steps:
1. Identify the significant figures in each number:
- 532.1: Let’s look at 532.1. All the digits in 532.1 are significant because:
- Any non-zero digit is always significant.
- Any zeros between significant figures are also significant.
Therefore, 532.1 has 4 significant figures.
- 101: Now, consider 101. Similarly:
- All non-zero digits are significant.
- Any zeros between significant figures are also significant.
Thus, 101 has 3 significant figures.
2. Determine the significant figures for the product:
- When multiplying two numbers, the number of significant figures in the result should equal the number of significant figures in the factor that has the fewest significant figures.
- Of the numbers 532.1 and 101, 101 has the fewest significant figures (3 significant figures).
Thus, the answer to the problem [tex]\( 532.1 \cdot 101 \)[/tex] will have 3 significant figures.
