Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
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 determining which zeros in a measurement are significant, as they indicate the precision of the measurement.
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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 measurement 0.00002 g, the leading zeros are not significant, and only the '2' is counted as significant.
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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 measurement like 20.05 °C, all zeros are significant, while in a whole number without a decimal, such as 120,000 yr, the trailing zeros may or may not be significant depending on the context or notation used.
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