Question

What is 3,482 to two significant figures

Answer 1

We have to round the number 3482 to two significant figures.

Since all the non-zero digits are always significant.

So, there are 4 significant figures in this number and we have to round to two significant figures.

If the last two digits are 50 or greater than 50,then add 1 to the hundredth digit and replace the last two digits by zero.

If last two digits are less than 50 then no change in hundredth digit,last two numbers to be removed.

Now consider the number 3,482,

Here, last two digits are 82, 82>50.

So, the number 3482 to two significant numbers is 3500.

Answer 2

Rounding off is quite simple. Just like we round off a number to a whole number or nearest tens or hundreds, we use the same technique to round it off to significant figures.

When we say two significant figures, means the first two digits should be the important ones and rest would turn to be 0 or 00's.

So we have to round the number 3482 to two significant figures:

Tip: Apart from 0 all numbers are important. We need to see whether they are more than 5 or less than 5. So over here we look at last two digits since the number has 4 digits. We will see whether the number is less than 50 or more than 50. If its more, we will move in towards an increase. If its less we will move in for a decrease.

-Here its larger than 50.

3,482

So, the number will be rounded off from 3482 to two significant numbers like this 3500.

Why 35? Because when you have a larger number, you add +1 to the hundredth term.