Question #c2e90

Apr 23, 2016

The answer is (b) $5$

Explanation:

The first thing to keep in mind when dealing with significant figures is that all nonzero digits are significant.

This means that right from the start, you know that your number has at least two sig figs, $\textcolor{b l u e}{3}$ and $\textcolor{b l u e}{5}$,

$0.00 \textcolor{b l u e}{3} 00 \textcolor{b l u e}{5} 0 \to$ two nonzero digits

Another important thing to remember is that all zeros that appear between two nonzero digits are significant. As you can see, you have two zeros that appear between the two nonzero digits, which will bring the number of sig figs to four

$0.00 \textcolor{b l u e}{3} \textcolor{red}{00} \textcolor{b l u e}{5} 0 \to$ two nonzero digits and two zeros that appear between those digits

Finally, you should remember that trailing zeros in a number that contains a decimal point are significant.

Your number, which contains a decimal point, has one trailing zero, which will bring the number of sig figs to five.

$0.00 \textcolor{b l u e}{3} \textcolor{red}{00} \textcolor{b l u e}{5} \textcolor{g r e e n}{0} \to$ two nonzero digits, two zeros that appear between those digits, and one trailing zero

Therefore, the answer will be (b) $5$.