Which of the following is a rule of significant figures in calculations?

• A. Zeros at the beginning of a number are always counted as significant figures.
• B. When adding or subtracting, the result should have the same number of significant figures as the measurement with the most significant figures.
• C. When multiplying or dividing, the result should have the same number of significant figures as the measurement with the fewest significant figures.
• D. All digits in a measurement are always considered significant, regardless of context.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that significant figures (sig figs) are the digits in a number that carry meaningful information about its precision.
2. Recall the rule for zeros at the beginning of a number: leading zeros are NOT counted as significant figures because they only indicate the position of the decimal point.
3. Review the rule for addition and subtraction: the result should have the same number of decimal places as the measurement with the fewest decimal places, NOT the most significant figures.
4. Focus on the rule for multiplication and division: the result should have the same number of significant figures as the measurement with the fewest significant figures.
5. Recognize that not all digits in a measurement are always significant; only those that contribute to the precision of the measurement count as significant figures.