For each number, underline the zeroes that are significant and draw an x through the zeroes that are not. a. 1,050,501 km b. 0.0020 m c. 0.000000000000002 s d. 0.001090 cm

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify significant figures: Significant figures are the digits in a number that contribute to its precision. This includes all non-zero digits, any zeroes between significant digits, and any trailing zeroes in the decimal portion.
2. For 1,050,501 km: The zero between 5 and 5 is significant because it is between two non-zero digits. The zeroes at the end are not significant because they are not followed by a decimal point.
3. For 0.0020 m: The zeroes before the 2 are not significant as they are only placeholders. The zero after the 2 is significant because it is a trailing zero in the decimal portion.
4. For 0.000000000000002 s: All zeroes before the 2 are not significant as they are only placeholders.
5. For 0.001090 cm: The zeroes before the 1 are not significant as they are only placeholders. The zero between 1 and 9 is significant because it is between two non-zero digits. The zero at the end is significant because it is a trailing zero in the decimal portion.

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 a decimal number. Understanding significant figures is crucial for accurately reporting measurements and calculations in scientific contexts.

Leading Zeros

Leading zeros are the zeros that precede all non-zero digits in a number. They are not considered significant because they do not affect the value of the number. For example, in the number 0.0020, the leading zeros before the '2' are not significant, while the '2' and the trailing zero are.

Trailing Zeros

Trailing zeros are the zeros that follow non-zero digits in a number. Their significance depends on the presence of a decimal point. In a decimal number, trailing zeros are significant, as they indicate precision, while in whole numbers without a decimal, they may not be significant. For instance, in 1,050,501, all zeros are significant, but in 1000, the zeros may not be unless specified.