How many significant digits are in #22/7#?
2 Answers
one
Explanation:
There are two terms in this expression
22 the numerator with two significant digits
7 the denominator with one significant digit.
An experiment is only as precise as its weakest measurement.
The weakest link in this expression is 7 the denominator. Therefore the answer can only be significant ( precise) as the 7 with only one significant digit.
The expression is significant to only one digit.
It depends on the context.
Explanation:
Case 1
The question may ask, "What is the density of an object that has a mass of
Each number is the result of a measurement, so the quotient may have no more significant figures than are in the measurement with the fewer significant digits.
In this case, the answer has only one significant figure,
Case 2
The question may ask, "What is the value of
Here, both numbers are integers, each with an infinite number of significant figures. Then,
The quotient also has an infinite number of significant figures.
