Homework #4

[206190205]

Identify the number of significant figures (sig figs) in each of these values.
3000, 0.006, 6700, 0.030, 80.00, 10590, 89122

Why is it that we count the zeros after 3 in 0.030, but not before it?

[Brian Bognuda 2I]

When determining the number of significant figures in a measurement, leading zeros aren't considered significant because they serve to represent the position of the decimal point and not measured quantities.

In the number 0.030, the leading zero before the 3 is not considered a significant figure. The first non-zero digit (3) is the first digit that represents a measured quantity, and thus it is the starting point for counting significant figures. The zero after the 3 is considered significant because it falls between non-zero digits, and trailing zeros to the right of the decimal point in a decimal number are considered significant.

Leading zeros are essentially placeholders and do not contribute to the precision of a measurement, so they are not counted as significant figures. Hope this helps.