Significant Figures and Division: Reflecting on Precision

How do we express the result of a division operation with the correct number of significant figures?

When dividing numbers, what is the rule for rounding the final answer?

Answer:

When dividing numbers, we round the answer to the same number of significant figures as the number with the least significant figures.

Significant figures are important in expressing the precision of a measurement or calculated result. When dividing numbers, it is crucial to ensure that the final answer is rounded to the appropriate number of significant figures to maintain accuracy and precision.

In the given example, the division operation 6.13 / 2.4 requires us to round the answer to the proper number of significant figures. The number 2.4 has 2 significant figures, so the final answer should also be rounded to 2 significant figures.

Dividing 6.13 by 2.4 gives an answer of 2.55. However, since we are rounding to 2 significant figures, the final answer becomes 2.6. This ensures that we express the result accurately based on the precision of the original numbers involved in the division.

Understanding how to handle significant figures in mathematical operations like division helps us maintain the correct level of precision in our calculations. It is an essential concept in scientific and mathematical fields where accuracy is crucial.