Question

Multiply 2.079x102 by 0.082x10-1, taking into account significant figures.

Answer 1

we are asked to determine the product of 2.079x102 and  0.082x10-1 and should be expressed in significant figures. The significant notation should have 10^1 because 2-1 is 1. The final product is equal to 1.70478 x 10^1.

Answer 2

Answer: 1.7

Step-by-step explanation:

Significant figures : The figures in a number which express the value -the magnitude of a quantity to a specific degree of accuracy is known as significant digits.

Rules for significant figures:

Digits from 1 to 9 are always significant and have infinite number of significant figures.

All non-zero numbers are always significant.

All zero’s between integers are always significant.

All zero’s preceding the first integers are never significant.

All zero’s after the decimal point are always significant.

The rule apply for multiplication and division is:

The least precise number determines the number of significant figures in the answer.

As the values are $2.079\times 10^2$ and $0.082\times 10^{-1}$, which contain 4 and 2 significant digits respectively, thus the answer would contain 2 significant digits.

Multiplication: $2.079\times 10^2\times 0.082\times 10^{-1}=1.7$

Thus the answer is 1.7 with 2 significant digits.