Using the correct number of significant figures, calculate the volume of a rectangular glass tabletop that is 60.0 in long, 36.0 in wide, and 0.66 in thick. Report your answers in metric units.

Question

I need to know the correct significant figures to use for the answer, because my online homework keeps telling me that the answers, 23360, 23361.4, 23361.0, 23300.0, 23300, etc. are close to the actual answer but aren't correct.

Answer 1

Your answer should have two significant figures (because 0.66 in measurement has 2). All of your suggested answers have 3 or more sigfigs.

Therefore: 23000 cm³

Answer 2

60 * 36 * 0.66 = 1425.6 in³

^{Convert to cm: 1 cm = 0.3937 in}

1 cm³ = 0.0610 in³

1425.6 in3 / 0.0610 = 23,370 cm³

To 2 significant figures: 23,000 cm³