Question

Which is the correct product of the significant figures 3278 and 42?

Answer 1

Answer:

$1.4\cdot 10^5$

Explanation:

In multiplications or divisions, the result must be written using a number of significant figures equal to the smallest number of significant figures contained in the original numbers.

For instance, in this case the two numbers are:

3278 --> 4 significant figures

42 --> 2 significant figures

So, the product must be written using 2 significant  figures.

Calculating the product, we get:

$3278\cdot 42=137676$

Therefore, using 2 significant figures only, the result is

$1.4\cdot 10^5$