Question

The number of significant figures in $5.0820 x 10^2$ is _________.

Answer 1

Correct Answer: 5

The key to determining the number of significant figures in a number is to identify all of the meaningful digits. In the given number, \(5.0820 \times 10^2\), we focus on the decimal number \(5.0820\).

1. **Identify Non-Zero Digits**: All non-zero digits are inherently significant. Here, the digits 5, 8, and 2 are non-zero.

2. **Zeroes**: Zeroes can be tricky, but in this context, any zeroes between non-zero digits or following a non-zero digit after a decimal point are significant.

In \(5.0820\), both zeroes are significant: the one between 8 and 2, and the trailing zero after the 2, since it indicates precision.

Thus, we have five significant figures: 5, 0, 8, 2, and the final 0.

Therefore, the number of significant figures in \(5.0820 \times 10^2\) is 5.