Question

The number of significant figures in 60.0001 is:
A. 5
B. 6
C. 3
D. 2

Answer 1

Hint: Significant figures are meaningful digits that can be figured out with certainty plus one which is calculated or uncertain. The uncertainty is demonstrated by writing certain digits and the last uncertain digit. For example, for 13.4 L, we can say that 13 is certain and 4 is uncertain.

Complete Step by Step Solution:
- In this question, we are given a number with a decimal which is 60.0001.

We have to find out the number of significant numbers.
- There are various rules for significant figures.
- One rule states that all non-zero digits are significant. So, non-zero numbers 6 and 1 are significant.
- Another rule states that zeros that exist in between two non-zero digits are significant. Thus, 8.003 includes four significant figures.
- In the given question, there are four zeros between non-zero numbers 6 and 1.
- Zeros at the end or right-hand side of a number are significant, provided they are on the right-hand side of the decimal point. For example, 0.300 has three significant numbers.
- These three rules help us in concluding that the four zeros along with non-zero numbers 6 and 1 are significant numbers.
- Therefore, there are six significant numbers in the given number 60.0001.
So, option B is correct.

Note: It must be noted that zeros coming before the first non-zero digit are
not at all significant. Such zero demonstrates the place of the decimal point. Accordingly, 0.045 has two significant figures and 0.00356 has three significant figures.