Question

How many significant figures are in 0.04050?

Answer 1

`4`.

Explanation:

There are `2` (well, perhaps `2.5`) laws of significant figures present here.

The first one being that all non-zero numbers are significant. With a `4` and a `5` in the number, we know there are at least `2` significant digits.

The second being that a zero in between non-zero numbers are significant. This adds the significant digit count to `3`.

Lastly (kind of), is that a trailing zero after a decimal is significant. So the `405color(red)(0)` is significant. The two other zeros in front of the decimal are irrelevant.

Therefore, there are `4` significant digits in this number.

I hope that helps!