Solving Significant Digit Problems with Varying Order of Magnitude

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on how to express answers with significant digits when dealing with varying orders of magnitude. The user is uncertain whether to maintain three significant digits or adjust to four due to the differing figures involved. It is noted that using 10.20 suggests a higher precision than intended, while 10.23 exceeds the three significant digits guideline. The consensus leans towards using 10.2 to maintain consistency with the three significant digits rule. Clarity in significant digit representation is crucial for accurate communication of measurement precision.
Irid
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I have reasons to believe that my question asks to write the answer with 3 significant digits (i.e. the given numbers are with 3 digits). But there are several figures to be worked out, so I list them (for example):

3.45
3.89
7.90
...
10.23 or 10.2 (or even 10.20)?

The problem is that the order of magnitude of the answers varies and I don't know what to do: write 4 significant digits (although I should know only 3) or stick with only 3, but then the number digits after the decimal point is different.
 
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It should be 10.2 10.20 appears to imply that you measured down to 100th decimal place of accuracy. 10.23 is 4 sig fig.
 
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