Which of the following numbers has 4 significant figures? 0.0100 g 100.0 g 0.0001 g 0.0010 g 0.100 g
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The number with 4 significant figures is 100.0 g.
Here’s the explanation:
- 0.0100 g: This has 3 significant figures. The leading zeroes are not counted as significant, but the trailing zeroes after the decimal point are. Therefore, “100” in this number counts for 3 significant figures, and the leading zeroes do not add to the count.
- 100.0 g: This has 4 significant figures. The number has a decimal point, which means the trailing zeroes after the decimal are counted as significant figures. So, the “1”, the “0”, the second “0”, and the final “0” after the decimal point are all counted.
- 0.0001 g: This has 1 significant figure. The leading zeroes are not counted, leaving only the “1” as significant.
- 0.0010 g: This has 2 significant figures. Again, the leading zeroes are not counted, but the trailing zero after the decimal point is, so it counts as significant.
- 0.100 g: This has 3 significant figures. The leading zero is not significant, but the “1” and the two trailing zeroes after the decimal point are significant.
In summary, 100.0 g is the number that has 4 significant figures because the decimal point shows that all the digits, including the trailing zero, are significant.
