Question

significant figures & precision homework true or false 1. significant figures are used to show the precision of a measurement. 2. placeholder zeros are always significant. 3. a correctly recorded measurement ends with an estimated digit. 4. imbedded zeros are not significant. 5. in scientific notation all of the digits in the base number are significant. 6. leading zeros are always significant. 7. a line over a zero indicates that it is the last significant digit. 8. trailing zeros to the right of the decimal are always significant. 9. the number 550,000. has 6 sig figs. 10. the number 0.00570 has 6 sig figs.

Explanation:

1. Significant figures indeed represent measurement precision.
2. Placeholder zeros are not always significant (e.g., in 0.05, the leading zeros are not).
3. A correctly - recorded measurement has an estimated digit at the end.
4. Imbedded zeros are significant (e.g., in 1.02).
5. In scientific notation, digits in the base number are significant.
6. Leading zeros are not significant (e.g., in 0.003).
7. A line over a zero indicates it is significant, but not necessarily the last significant digit.
8. Trailing zeros to the right of the decimal are significant.
9. 550,000. has 3 significant figures if no other context, trailing zeros without a decimal point may be placeholders.
10. 0.00570 has 3 significant figures, leading zeros are not significant.

Answer:

1. True
2. False
3. True
4. False
5. True
6. False
7. False
8. True
9. False
10. False