How many significant figures are in each of the following measurements? (a) $130.95

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Identify all the non-zero digits in the number, as they are always significant.

Look for any zeros between non-zero digits, as they are also significant.

Check for any trailing zeros in the decimal portion of the number, as they are significant.

Count all the significant digits identified in the previous steps.

The number 130.95 has five significant figures: 1, 3, 0, 9, and 5.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Significant Figures

Significant figures are the digits in a number that contribute to its precision. This includes all non-zero digits, any zeros between significant digits, and trailing zeros in a decimal number. Understanding significant figures is crucial for accurately reporting measurements and calculations in scientific contexts.

Rules for Counting Significant Figures

There are specific rules for determining the number of significant figures in a measurement. Non-zero digits are always significant, zeros between significant digits are significant, and leading zeros are not significant. Trailing zeros in a decimal number are significant, which is essential for interpreting the precision of the measurement.

Precision vs. Accuracy

Precision refers to the consistency of repeated measurements, while accuracy indicates how close a measurement is to the true value. In the context of significant figures, a higher number of significant figures generally implies greater precision, which is important for scientific calculations and data reporting.

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