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To figure out how many significant figures there are in a number you must first know the rules. All numbers 1-9 are counted towards the number of significant figures. The only number you need to worry about is 0.

-If there are 0's between digits (like 105), they are counted towards sig figs.

-If, to the right of a decimal point, the number ends in a 0, or multiple 0's (4.660), they all count towards sig figs.

-If, to the left of a decimal point, the number ends in 0 (4500), the 0 (or this case zeros) do not count towards sig figs.

-If there is a lone 0 to the left of a decimal point (0.112), the 0 does not count towards sig figs.

An example would be the number 0.4090

Automatically you know that the 4 and the 9 both count towards sig figs. Then you need to focus on the zero's. There is 1 lone 0 to the left of the decimal point, meaning that it does notcount towards sig figs. The 0 in between the 4 and the 9 counts towards sig figs because it is between 2 digits 1-9. The 0 on the end also counts because it is to the right of the decimal point. In all, this number has 4 significant figures.

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13y ago

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