If we multiply this is the sig fig correct?

158.0 x 0.00105



I get 0.2



am I correct?

If we multiply this is the sig fig correct?
158.0 * 0.00105 = 0.166

The answer should be rounded to have the same number of significant figures as the numbers (in this case 3 significant figures of 0.00105)
Reply:no the answer is 0.158 Three sig figs because 0.00105 has three. 150.0 has 4
Reply:no



158.0 has 4 sig figs, while 0.00105 has 3.



so your answer needs 3 sig figs.
Reply:nope. The first number has 4 sigfigs while the second has three. Your answer should have three since that is the lowest number in the problem.



If the decimal point is is the middle like so (surrounded by numbers): 158.0: you don't do anytthing and just count each number. (the 1, 5, 8 and zero.)



If it is at the beginning like so: .00105 (the zero before this decimal point doesn't count since it's not necessary. However, if the number was 1.00105, this would be considered middle.) anyway, then you move the decimal point right, ignoring all zeros and only stopping when you get to a nonzero. that leave 1, 0, and 5. three sig figs.



If it's at the end, like so 105, 000(.) (I know it's not usually there, but pretend.) then you move left crossing all zeros until you get to a nonzero. that leaves three sig figs, 1, 0, and 5.



So this probelm sound have an answer of .166. three sig figs. Your answer is a beginning decimal point and you ignore that zero beforehand so you only have ONE sig fig!



However, such an answer might be correct sig fig-wise if you are going by addition sig fig rules. there you think only of lowest number decimal places and since 158.0 has one and so does 0.2 that makes sense. however, 158.0 + 0.00105 DOESN'T equal 0.2.
Reply:you need three sig figs, and zeros on the left don't count...