# How many significant figures will there be in the answer to the following problem? 3.4 *17.05 ?

Sep 4, 2016

#### Explanation:

The thing to remember about multiplication and division is that the result cannot have more significant figures than the value with the least number of significant figures.

In other words, the answer must be as precise as the least precise number used in the multiplication or division.

In your case, you know that

• $3.4 \to$ two non-zero digits $=$ two sig figs

• $17.05 \to$ four non-zero digits $=$ four sig figs

This tells you that the result of the operation

$3.4 \times 17.05$

cannot have more than two sig figs, since that is how many sig figs you have for the least precise measurement.

So, do the multiplication to find

$3.4 \times 17.05 = 57.97$

Rounded to two sig figs, the answer will be

$\textcolor{g r e e n}{\overline{\underline{| \textcolor{w h i t e}{\frac{a}{a}} \textcolor{b l a c k}{3.4 \times 17.015 = 58} \textcolor{w h i t e}{\frac{a}{a}} |}}}$