Question detail
A calculation gives 0.004862 mol from data quoted to three significant figures. Which final answer is most appropriate?
Try the question, check the answer, then read the explanation to understand the curriculum point.
At a glance
MCQ
Type
practice
Style
Topic
Mathematical requirements and assessment objectives
Question
- A. A. 4.86 × 10-3 mol, because the answer is rounded to three significant figures in standard form.
- B. B. 0.004862 mol, because every calculator digit should be copied into the final answer.
- C. C. 0.00 mol, because leading zeros count as significant figures.
- D. D. 4.862 × 103 mol, because standard form always uses a positive power.
Answer
A. 4.86 × 10-3 mol, because the answer is rounded to three significant figures in standard form.
Explanation
The significant-figures objective requires a final numerical answer to reflect the precision of the data. The calculator value 0.004862 mol becomes 4.86 × 10-3 mol to three significant figures. Leading zeros are placeholders, and copying all digits can imply false precision. This directly supports the learning objective to handle data, units, standard form, significant figures and uncertainty because the answer explains the mathematical decision and the reporting convention.
Common mistake
Significant Figures Confusion
Students often round numbers incorrectly when performing calculations, leading to an inaccurate number of significant figures.
To fix this, students should identify the significant figures in the original data and ensure that their final answer reflects the correct number of significant figures based on the least precise measurement.
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