Step by step
The question
Question: round 0.004567 to 2 significant figures.
1 Find the first significant figure
The first significant figure is the first digit that is not 0.
In 0.004567, it is 4.
The zeros in front only hold the place.
They are not counted.
2 Count the figures
We count 2 figures from there: 4, 5.
The 2nd figure, 5, is in the ten-thousandths place.
So we round to the nearest ten-thousandth.
3 Look at the next digit
Now we look at the next digit to the right.
It is 6.
5 or more: we round up.
4 or less: we round down.
6 is 5 or more, so we round up.
4 See it on a number line
0.004567 is closer to 0.0046.
5 Keep the size
We stop after the 2nd figure.
So 0.004567 is about 0.0046.
Careful!
The zeros in front are not counted.
But they stay in the answer.
They hold the place.
So 0.004567 to 2 significant figures is 0.0046.
6 Check
Let's check.
0.0046 has 2 significant figures: 4, 6.
And it is close to 0.004567.
So the answer is right!
Let's look back.
First: find the first significant figure.
Then: count the figures.
Then: look at the next digit.
Then: see it on a number line.
Then: keep the size.
Last: check.