Question

What is 3,482 to two significant figures?

Answer 1

Solution: To find the two significant figures of the given number, we need to remember below two criteria's:

Criteria 1:

If last two digits are 50 or greater than 50,then add +1 to the hundredth digit and remove last two digits (that is make them 00).

Criteria 2:

If last two digits are less than 50 then no change in hundredth digit,last two numbers to be removed (that is make them 00).

In the given question we have 3,482

Last two digits are 82.

Since $82>50$, therefore, the criteria 1 has to be used.

Adding +1 to the hundredth digit and making last two 00.

Therefore, the number 3,482 becomes 3,500.