Converting between scientific & regular notation, without changing sig. figs.?

Join the discussion
Ask a follow-up here, or get your own question answered by working scientists, mathematicians and engineers — people, not an autocomplete.
Real named experts · corrections over time · the nuance an AI answer skips
Sign up Log in
3 replies · 4K views
rishay95
Messages
2
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


According to the question, i have to convert 3.60 * 105 to regular notation, without changing the number of significant figures, which is currently, as i understand, three.
I'm just really unsure how to do this.
Any help?

Homework Equations


Some said to write out 360,000 & use a bar on the leftmost zero. But, the textbook doesn't mention bars so I'm not sure if we're allowed to use them. Is there any other solution?

The Attempt at a Solution


If it were 3.6 * 105, I know it would just be 360,000

However, that 3.60 is what's really messing me up.
 
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
360,000 is still correct. 3.6 x 10^5 means that the actual value is in the range from:

355,000 to 365,000.

Whereas 3.60 x 10^5 means that the actual value is in the range from:

359,500 to 360,500.
 
Xisune said:
360,000 is still correct. 3.6 x 10^5 means that the actual value is in the range from:

355,000 to 365,000.

Whereas 3.60 x 10^5 means that the actual value is in the range from:

359,500 to 360,500.

Thanks for the reply, but doesn't the value 360,000 have 2 significant digits? That would be changing the number of significant digits, which according to the question, I am not allowed to do.
 
rishay95 said:
Thanks for the reply, but doesn't the value 360,000 have 2 significant digits? That would be changing the number of significant digits, which according to the question, I am not allowed to do.

To specify 2 sig digs, write the uncertainty after the value.

For 3.6 x 10^5, the uncertainty would be ± 5,000.

That means the uncertainty for 3.60 x 10^5 is...?