Significant Figures in Addition · PhysicsBowl 2011 #4

Physics · mechanics

Problem

The following two measurements of length are recorded from an experiment:

L_1 = 4.57\times 10^{3}

m and

L_2 = 2.130\times 10^{1}

m. Using the rules of significant digits, what is the sum

(L_1 + L_2)

of these measurements? (A)

5\times 10^{3}

m (B)

4.8\times 10^{3}

m (C)

4.78\times 10^{3}

m (D)

4.783\times 10^{3}

m (E)

6.70\times 10^{3}