Round off the following quantities to the number of signifi-cant figures indicated in parentheses. (c) 13.2151 g/cm3 (3)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the number of significant figures required: In this case, we need to round the number to 3 significant figures.
2. Look at the original number: 13.2151 g/cm³.
3. Determine the first three significant figures: These are the first three non-zero digits from the left, which are 1, 3, and 2.
4. Examine the digit immediately after the third significant figure: In this case, it is 1.
5. Apply rounding rules: Since the digit after the third significant figure is less than 5, the third significant figure remains unchanged.

Key Concepts

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 the decimal portion. Understanding significant figures is crucial for accurately reporting measurements and ensuring that calculations reflect the precision of the data.

Rounding Rules

Rounding rules dictate how to adjust numbers to the desired level of precision. When rounding to a specific number of significant figures, if the digit following the last significant figure is 5 or greater, the last significant figure is increased by one. If it is less than 5, the last significant figure remains unchanged. This ensures that the rounded number is as close as possible to the original value.

Measurement Units

Measurement units provide a standard for quantifying physical properties. In this case, grams per cubic centimeter (g/cm³) is a unit of density, which expresses mass per unit volume. Understanding the context of measurement units is essential for interpreting data correctly and applying the appropriate significant figures in calculations.