Report the result of the following calculations to the correct number of significant figures.

a) 0.347 - 0.0732

Answer

To find the difference we simply subtract the two numbers;

So we've performed the subtraction now we must determine the answer to the correct number of significant figures. In addition and substraction our answer can have no more digits to the right of the decimal as the the number with the smallest number of digits to the right of the decimal. The number 0.347 has three digits to the right, while the number 0.0732 has 4 digits to the right. So our answer can only have 3 digits to the right of the decimal.

So we must round off the result. Since the number '8' is the left most digit to be dropped we will add '1' to the last digit retained. The correct answer is 0.274.