Question 1

When adding the numbers $$5.389$$, $$4.3$$, and $$0.103$$, how many decimal places should the final answer have according to the rules of significant figures?

Accepted Answer

The same number of decimal places as the number with the fewest decimal places.

Question 2

Calculate $$43.5287 	imes 0.05192 	imes 0.0023$$ and round your answer to the correct number of significant figures.

Accepted Answer

$$0.005$$

Question 3

A student multiplies $$3.86200$$, $$0.0987$$, and $$0.1345$$ together. What is the correct answer rounded to the appropriate number of significant figures?

Accepted Answer

$$0.5327$$

Question 4

Block A has side lengths $$0.50\ \mathrm{m}$$, $$0.875\ \mathrm{m}$$, and $$2.250\ \mathrm{m}. $$Block B has a volume of $$2.6\ \mathrm{m}^3. $$What is the combined volume of the blocks, expressed with the correct number of significant figures?

Accepted Answer

$$2.6\ \mathrm{m}^3$$

Question 5

Which of the following operations requires you to round your answer to the same number of significant figures as the value with the fewest significant figures?

Accepted Answer

Multiplication

Question 6

You measure the area of a rectangle as $$12.4081\ \mathrm{m}^2$$ and $$0.05192\ \mathrm{m}^2. $$What is the correct number of significant figures in the product?

Accepted Answer

2

Question 7

A scientist adds $$43.0$$, $$0.0203$$, and $$119.212. $$What is the correct number of decimal places in the final answer?

Accepted Answer

1

Question 8

Which of the following is the correct way to round $$206.37\ \mathrm{m}^2 to $$two significant figures?

Accepted Answer

$$210\ \mathrm{m}^2$$

Question 9

If you multiply $$8.0 by$$ $$0.003$$, how many significant figures should your answer have?

Accepted Answer

1

Question 10

A measurement is recorded as $$0.00997. $$How many significant figures does this value have?

Accepted Answer

4

Question 11

When performing a calculation that involves both addition and multiplication, which rule should you use for the final rounding?

Accepted Answer

Round according to Rule 1 or 2, depending on the final operation.

Question 12

A student calculates $$12.0 + 0.0203 + 119.212. $$What is the correct answer rounded to the appropriate number of decimal places?

Accepted Answer

$$131.2$$

Question 13

Which of the following is NOT a correct rule for determining significant figures in calculations?

Accepted Answer

For subtraction, round to the same number of significant figures as the value with the most significant figures.

Question 14

A block has a measured volume of $$2.559375\ \mathrm{m}^3$$ but the measurement device only allows for two significant figures. What should the reported volume be?

Accepted Answer

$$2.6\ \mathrm{m}^3$$

Question 15

Which of the following best describes the process for determining the number of significant figures in a calculated value involving both addition and multiplication?

Accepted Answer

Write all digits for intermediate steps, then round the final answer according to the last operation.

Significant Figures and Their Application in Physics Calculations

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