How many significant are in 2,050x10ⁿ? Where n=5

1 Answer
May 5, 2018

There are 3 significant figures.

Explanation:

2,050x10ⁿ, assuming you mean two thousand and fifty multiplied by 10 to the nth power, where n equals 5, that would be 2050 x 10^5. Now, write this number out and it will become

205000000

Rules for significant figures is that the trailing zeros, or the zeros after the 5, are not included. These zeros are just an indicator of the magnitude of the number, and can be simplified with scientific notation. 205, however, counts as three significant figures.

Any non-zero number is a significant figure, and all zeros between those non-zero numbers are also significant figures.

So, there are 3 significant figures.