omg i have no idea how to do this?

Question

for chemistry we have a math packet. it says round these numbers to 4 significant figures. so if the number is 431801 how do i round it? 431800? that would be 6 significant figures b/c the zeros count. please help.

umm el tuco this is summer hw...she just gave us a packet and told us to do it to see how much we know, so we havent really had the class yet.ok?

Answer 1

I signed on to my other account just for this.
The original (431801) had 6 significant figures and a least significant decimal of 0.

The new format (4.318e5) has 4 significant figures and a least significant decimal of 2.

Answer 2

What you are really asking is what is "significant figure" A prescribed decimal place which determines the amount of rounding off to be done; this is usually based upon the degree of accuracy in measurement. So you were right. Tho it would useually be expressed as 4.318 x 10^5 (Math types like that better) for example Pi is useually rounded to 3 digits 3.14

Answer 3

ohhh i loved these... its reallie simple... but takes some practice to get used to... OK first off

431801 to 4 sig fig is 4318 x 10to the 2nd power = 431800

The trick is to know how to use the 10 to the "blank" power

10 to the 2nd power is 100, so 100 x 4318 is 431800.

If it was to 2 sig figs, it would be 43 x 10 4th power. because 10 to the 4th power is 10000 x 43 is 430000. Hope this helped

Answer 4

it would be 431800 The 2 zeros do not count. they would only count if there was a decimal after it. like 431800. now that is 6 sig figs. but you have it right. That is only 4. Good luck and email me if you have any more problems with chemistry!!

Answer 5

you did it right
The zeroes only count if there is a digit with value greater than zero that follows in a less significant place. Having said that, sometimes a significant digit is zero. That's okay, it's all about maintaining accuracy to the right number of digits.

Answer 6

umm maybe it would be 4320 or 4320 cause u round the 1 t0 a 2 cause of the 8. if someone else explains it better take there advise maths really not my thing sry hon.

Answer 7

I believe that it would become 432000 because you want to round to the thousand's place.

Also, if it said round three, you would round to the hundredth's, two to the tenth, 5 to the tenthousandth... so on.

Hope this helps!

-Lella^_^

Answer 8

I don't understand the question either, but 431800 would be my guess, too, if you're rounding numbers.

Answer 9

oh sig figs are really easy 43100 would round to 4318 431801 would round to 4218

Answer 10

4.318 x 10^5

but the zeros dont count. it only counts if you write it like this: 431800.0