Question

Multiply 107.88 by 0.610 and express the result with a correct number of significant figures.
A. 65.8068
B. 65.807
C. 65.81
D. 65.8

Answer 1

Hint: In order to solve this given problem, we need to know about significant figures. Significant figures are those in which each digit of a number is used to express it to the required degree of accuracy, which starts from the first non-zero digit.

Complete step by step solution:
There is a rule in order to solve this problem while doing multiplication or division, the final result should retain as many significant figures as there are in the original number with the least significant figures. Here, 0.610 has the least significant figures of 3. So, if we multiply 107.88 by 0.610 then,
\[107.88 \times 0.610 = 65.8068 \\ \]
Since we have to express this in the number of significant figures of 3 then, it will be 65.8. Therefore, the result with the correct number of significant figures is 65.8

Hence, option D is the correct answer.

Additional information: Significant figures are also used to establish the number which is presented in the form of digits. Instead of figures, these can be used. By counting all the values starting from the first non-zero digit located on the left one can find the number of significant digits.

Note:We have to make sure that whenever we are supposed to find the significant figures, first count the digits in a given number then eliminate if a number contains zero in the starting and don’t forget to count if the zeros are present in the middle of the given number.