Question

How many significant figures will there be in the answer to the following problem? You do not have to solve the problem.

6.783 - 2.56 =

How many significant figures will there be in the answer to the following problem? You do not have to solve the problem.

6.783 - 2.56 =

@Mathematics

Answer 1

4

Answer 2

says thats wrong

Answer 3

3, As far as I know the significant figures in the answer is to the lowest (as you can't guarantee the certainty past the lowest sig figures..if that makes sense?)

Answer 4

okay so if just take the lowest amount of sig figs in the problem and thats the answer?

Answer 5

joshee check this out do the working and type in the answer

http://ostermiller.org/calc/significant_figures.html

it will help

Answer 6

Yeah, I can't think of a good way to write it but think of a situation like this: You are trying to find the difference between a number that you measured with a ruler to exactly 5 sig figures and one that someone measured to be to one significant figure. Now that person who measured to one sig figure isn't sure what the rest of the figures are...so you can't be sure what your difference number is past the one sig figure.

Answer 7

3 of course

Answer 8

(In other words 1.32445-1.something something something = 2.something something. So your end up with only 1 sig figure) Or in this instance, 3.

Answer 9

Yeah buddy the number of digits after the decimal is taken as the significant figures because it shows u the accuracy!!!
So, in this case it is 3

Answer 10

it is 4, my argument is we know the exact numbers in the question so we know the exact answer, all non zeros are significant therefore 4 would be the answer.

if i'm wrong attach something to prove it.

examples:

The rules for identifying significant digits when writing or interpreting numbers are as follows:

All non-zero digits are considered significant. For example, 91 has two significant digits (9 and 1), while 123.45 has five significant digits (1, 2, 3, 4 and 5).

Zeros appearing anywhere between two non-zero digits are significant. Example: 101.12 has five significant digits: 1, 0, 1, 1 and 2.

Leading zeros are not significant. For example, 0.000 52 has two significant digits: 5 and 2.

Answer 11

Okay so you have 6.783 - 2.56 =
6.783 has 4 significant figures
2.56 has 3 significant figures
Your accuracy is thereby limited by your 3 significant figured number therefore your answer is 3. (If it was 2.560 then it would be a different story).

I will find you a reference :)

Answer 12

Trance your right i will tap out, thanks for improving my understanding.

Answer 13

But but... I made big long answer :P Not a problem.. posting it anyway.. I got a little obsessed didn't I? Hehe




"Addition or Subtraction:
The last digit retained is set by the first doubtful digit."
http://www.chem.tamu.edu/class/fyp/mathrev/mr-sigfg.html
Our 'first doubtful digit' is the 6 in 2.56, so resultant answer is 3.

"When combining measurements with different degrees of accuracy and precision, the accuracy of the final answer can be no greater than the least accurate measurement. This principle can be translated into a simple rule for addition and subtraction: When measurements are added or subtracted, the answer can contain no more decimal places than the least accurate measurement."
http://chemed.chem.purdue.edu/genchem/topicreview/bp/ch1/sigfigs.html
(Least accurate is to 3 sig figs)

"you would round the answer to the same decimal place as the least-accurate number." http://www.purplemath.com/modules/rounding3.htm

Answer 14

haha sorry

Answer 15

Nah Nah, don't be sorry lol