Round 0.0372 to 1 significant figure Step by Step

Step by step

The question

Question: round 0.0372 to 1 significant figure.

Round 0.0372 to 1 significant figure

1 Find the first significant figure

The first significant figure is the first digit that is not 0.

In 0.0372, it is 3.

= 0.0372

The zeros in front only hold the place.

They are not counted.

0s in front: not counted

significant figures: counted from

the first digit that is not 0

2 Count the figures

We count 1 figure from there: 3.

The 1st figure, 3, is in the hundredths place.

So we round to the nearest hundredth.

= 1st figure 3 → the hundredths place

3 Look at the next digit

Now we look at the next digit to the right.

It is 7.

5 or more: we round up.

4 or less: we round down.

7 is 5 or more, so we round up.

= 7 is 5 or more → round up

5 or more → up: digit + 1

4 or less → down: digit stays

4 See it on a number line

0.0372 is closer to 0.04.

5 Keep the size

We stop after the 1st figure.

So 0.0372 is about 0.04.

= 0.0372 ≈ 0.04

Careful!

The zeros in front are not counted.

But they stay in the answer.

They hold the place.

Careful: the 0s in front stay: 0.04

So 0.0372 to 1 significant figure is 0.04.

6 Check

Let's check.

0.04 has 1 significant figure: 4.

0.04: figures 4 → 1 s.f.

And it is close to 0.0372.

So the answer is right!

0.0372 ≈ 0.04: the same size

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.

Answer