Question

What is the significance of dissenting opinions?
a. dissents are signs that the court is in disagreement on an issue and could change its ruling.
b. dissents are meant to confuse lawyers and government officials as to the true meaning of a decided case.
c. they have as much weight of law as the majority's opinion does.
d. they are meant to appease the losing side in a case.
e. they are made to appeal to a justice's constituency groups?

Answer 1

A is really the closest. 
There are really 3 main reasons as to why a dissenting opinion is written:
1. To record their opinion about why they disagreed. 
2. Many write them in hopes that can impact future decisions and cases similar to the one that they are ruling on. 
3. The possibility that some form of legislation will be passed in the future to fix the problem that they see with the law.