Answer:
Significant figures are important when reporting measurements because of accuracy and the required exactness of a measure taken.
Explanation:
Significant figures refers to the degree of exactness of a measure taken because no measuring device can give a completely accurate measure. This allows for a degree of uncertainty in the final measurement gotten. This concept of significant figures is important in the fields of engineering and science because it affects how easily reproducible a measure taken can be retaken and how close to the true value a measure is.
Converting the number 3.142 to 1 significant figure would result in a 3 however converting the number to 3 significant figures would give 3.14 which is more accurate representation of the figure.