How many significant figures should the answer to the following equation have?
2)3 × 13.669 = ____
A)1
B)2
C)3
D)4

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The number of significant figures in the answer is determined by the number with the least significant figures in the equation, which is 3 (having only 1 significant figure). However, since it's a counting number exactly specifying a quantity, it doesn't limit the significant figures in this context. The multiplication does not change the number of decimal places, so the answer should have the same number of significant figures as the least precise measurement, which is 13.669 with 5 significant figures. The initial interpretation was incorrect; the correct interpretation should consider the rules for significant figures in multiplication, which dictate that the result should have the same number of significant figures as the factor with the least number of significant figures. Given the nature of the operation (multiplication) and the precision of the numbers involved (3 being an exact number in this context and 13.669 having 5 significant figures), the answer should retain 5 significant figures, aligning with the precision of 13.669. However, the initial response was focused on the significant figures directly involved without considering the exactness of counting numbers in multiplication. The correct choice should reflect the precision dictated by the operation and the nature of the numbers involved, emphasizing the significance of understanding how different types of numbers (exact counts vs. measured quantities) influence the determination of significant figures in calculations.

How Many Significant Figures Should the Answer to the Following