Question

Give the number of significant figures: 0.011 cm

Answer 1

It would be only two because you would not count the zeros to the left even if there is a decimal point :)

Answer 2

Answer: 2 significant figures

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.

Rules for significant figures:

Digits from 1 to 9 are always significant and have infinite number of significant figures.

All non-zero numbers are always significant. For example: 654, 6.54 and 65.4 all have three significant figures.

All zero’s between integers are always significant. For example: 5005, 5.005 and 50.05 all have four significant figures.

All zero’s preceding the first integers are never significant. For example: 0.0078 has two significant figures.

All zero’s after the decimal point are always significant. For example: 4.500, 45.00 and 450.0 all have four significant figures.

Thus 0.011 has 2 significant figures.