Question

Which of the following has three significant figures? A. 0.0005 m, B. 7,007 mg, C. 5.60 km, D. 0.080

Answer 1

C. 5.60 km has three significant figures.

Explanation:

A. 0.0005 m has 1 significant figure because leading zeroes are place holders and not significant.

B. 7,077 mg has 4 significant figures because the non-zero digits are always significant and a zero between other significant numbers (called a captive zero) is significant.

C. 5.60 km has 3 significant figures because trailing zeroes after a decimal are significant.

D. 0.080 mm has 2 significant figures because the leading zeroes are not significant and the trailing zero after the decimal is significant.