Which number has one significant figure: 4xx10^(-23) or 4.0xx10^(-23)?

2 Answers
Sep 19, 2015

It would be 4xx10^(-23). 4.0xx10^(-23) would have two sig figs.

Sep 19, 2015

the correct answer is 4xx10^(-23)

Explanation:

4xx10^(-23) is one significant figure.

4.0xx10^(-23) is two significant figures since it contains a trailing zero in a number that has a decimal point.

Here is a full explanation on significant figures:
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Source: Screenshot from my teaching notes.