How many significant figures are in 10.65922?
Answer (2)
The number 10.65922 has 7 significant figures. All non-zero digits are significant, and the zero between non-zero digits is also counted. Therefore, there are a total of 7 significant figures in this number.
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Identify that all non-zero digits are significant.
Recognize that zeros between non-zero digits are significant.
Count all digits in the number 10.65922.
Conclude that there are 7 significant figures.
Explanation
Understanding Significant Figures We are asked to determine the number of significant figures in the number 10.65922. Significant figures are the digits in a number that are known with certainty plus one final digit that is uncertain or estimated.
Rules for Significant Figures
All non-zero digits are significant. In the number 10.65922, the digits 1, 6, 5, 9, 2, and 2 are non-zero, so they are significant.
Zeros between non-zero digits are significant. In the number 10.65922, there is a zero between 1 and 6, so it is significant.
Leading zeros are not significant. (There are no leading zeros in this number.)
Trailing zeros in a number containing a decimal point are significant. (There are no trailing zeros in this number.)
Counting Significant Figures In the number 10.65922, all the digits are significant because the 0 is between non-zero digits, and all other digits are non-zero. Therefore, we count all the digits: 1, 0, 6, 5, 9, 2, 2. There are 7 digits in total.
Final Answer Therefore, the number of significant figures in 10.65922 is 7 .
Examples
Significant figures are used in science and engineering to indicate the precision of a measurement. For example, if you measure the length of an object to be 10.65922 meters, it means you have measured it with a precision of 7 significant figures. This indicates that you know the length to be between 10.659215 and 10.659225 meters. Using the correct number of significant figures is important to avoid overstating the precision of your measurements.
