Significant Figure of 500.0

Question

anonymous · Answer

@amistre64 @apoorvk @FoolForMath @satellite73 @Taufique

anonymous · Answer

the answer shoulb be 4

apoorvk · Answer

Well, we don't count the 'zero' at the end after the decimal, do we? o.O

I am sorry am confused, let me remember..

unklerhaukus · Answer

there are four significant figures

apoorvk · Answer

Ohkay. I guess we do count that zero, if it's given, because that means the no. is exactly 500, correct to one decimal place (not been rounded off from something like 500.1 or 500.2 or something). So it's significant.

Hence '4'.


Sorry for the wrong info earlier.

unklerhaukus · Answer

this isn't really a maths problem , this is a physics problem,

mathematically the numbers 
represented by  $500.0$  and  $5\times10^2$  are equal $$500.0=5\times10^2$$
but Physically the value represented by $500.0$ has more accuracy
 than value represented by $5\times10^2$

unklerhaukus · Answer

The significant figures of   $400$    
is ambiguous it could be 1, 2 or 3.

unklerhaukus · Answer

numbers written in scientific notation with only
 one place to the left of the decimal point 
do not have this ambiguity

Physically $$5\times10^2\neq5.00\times10^2$$

because the latter has more accuracy