Question

Calculate the answer to the following expression to the correct number of significant figures.

4 X 10^8/2.0 X 10^-5

Answer 1

Answer : The answer will be
`\Rightarrow 2* 10^(13)`

Explanation :

Significant figures : The figures in a number which express the value -the magnitude of a quantity to a specific degree of accuracy is known as significant digits.

The rule apply for the multiplication and division is :

The least number of significant figures in any number of the problem determines the number of significant figures in the answer.

As we are given the expression :

`(4* 10^8)/(2.0* 10^(-5))`

`\Rightarrow 2* 10^(13)`

In the given expression,
`4* 10^8` has 1 significant figure and
`2.0* 10^(-5)` has 2 significant figures. From this we conclude that 1 is the least significant figures in this problem. So, the answer should be in 1 significant figures.

Thus, the answer will be
`\Rightarrow 2* 10^(13)`