On a fishing trip you catch a 2.20lb bass, a 11.3lb rock cod, and a 12.13lb salmon.

what is the total weight of your catch?

Question

On a fishing trip you catch a 2.20lb bass, a 11.3lb rock cod, and a 12.13lb salmon.

what is the total weight of your catch?

theeric · Answer

Haha! I read "11.3lb rock!" That would be how I'd fish.

So, this would be addition. Is this a significant figures problem?

summersnow8 · Answer

yes it is

summersnow8 · Answer

because I got, 25.63 lbs, but i dont think that is right

shane_b · Answer

That's right :)  It's just addition since they are all the same units.

summersnow8 · Answer

are you sure that is right?

shane_b · Answer

If you adjust it for significant figures it shifts to 25.6lbs

theeric · Answer

Yep! With addition and subtraction, you just make sure you have all the significant figures, and no more.

theeric · Answer

Here's the rule for addition and multiplication (.edu site) http://chemed.chem.purdue.edu/genchem/topicreview/bp/ch1/sigfigs.html

summersnow8 · Answer

so 25.6? or 25.63?

theeric · Answer

and here's a site for counting your sig figs, another .edu, and more descriptive. http://www.usca.edu/chemistry/genchem/sigfig.htm

shane_b · Answer

25.6

That's because when performing addition and subtraction, your final answer will only have as many significant figures as the measured value with the least number of decimal places.

theeric · Answer

25.6!

summersnow8 · Answer

okay, thank you guys!! so helpful!

summersnow8 · Answer

i wish i could give you both medals

theeric · Answer

I misread, and I knew it didn't make sense! This is why you listen to @Shane_B!

shane_b · Answer

I gave Eric one :)

theeric · Answer

Haha, it's good that that happens. I'd go with Shane_B because he got it right and did so before me and did so before I caught my mistake!

theeric · Answer

Haha, I gave Shane_B one. ... How'd you know my name?! Anyway...

shane_b · Answer

lucky guess!

theeric · Answer

You're gooood....

summersnow8 · Answer

what's my name?

theeric · Answer

Hmmm... It's in your information!!

theeric · Answer

Unless that's a fake name.

theeric · Answer

`"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

summersnow8 · Answer

okay! awesome!

theeric · Answer

Multiplication -
`"When measurements are multiplied or divided, the answer can contain no more significant figures than the least accurate measurement. "` - same link

theeric · Answer

Although I know a girl with the middle name of Summer.

summersnow8 · Answer

gotcha