Write down the number 0.0052048 correct to 3 significant figures.
Understand the Problem
The question is asking to round the number 0.0052048 to three significant figures. To do this, we identify the first three non-zero digits in the number and round accordingly.
Answer
$0.00520$
Answer for screen readers
The answer is $0.00520$.
Steps to Solve
- Identify significant figures
We begin by looking at the number $0.0052048$. The leading zeros before the first non-zero digit are not significant. The first three significant figures in this number are $5$, $2$, and $0$.
- Round the number
Since we have identified the three significant figures $5$, $2$, and $0$, we need to consider the digit following these figures for rounding. The next digit after $0$ is $4$. Since $4$ is less than $5$, we do not round up.
- Write the final result
Therefore, rounding $0.0052048$ to three significant figures gives us $0.00520$.
The answer is $0.00520$.
More Information
Rounding to significant figures helps to streamline numbers for easier comprehension while maintaining a level of precision. The leading zeros are important in determining the place of the number in relation to the decimal point but do not count as significant figures.
Tips
- Forgetting that leading zeros are not considered significant figures. Make sure to only count non-zero digits.
- Failing to properly round based on the next digit. Remember to round up if the digit is $5$ or greater, and not to round when it’s less than $5$.
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