College

Round the answer to the correct number of significant figures for the following:

[tex]16.5 + 22.289 = 38.789[/tex]

Select the best answer:

A. 38.8
B. 38.79
C. 38
D. 39

Answer :

To solve this problem, we need to round the sum of 16.5 and 22.289 to the correct number of significant figures. Let's go through the steps:

1. Add the Numbers: First, we add 16.5 and 22.289 together. This gives us a sum of 38.789.

2. Determine the Decimal Places for Rounding: When adding numbers, the result should be rounded to the least number of decimal places of any number in the operation. Here, 16.5 has one decimal place, and 22.289 has three decimal places.

3. Round the Result: Since 16.5 has the least number of decimal places (one), we round the sum, 38.789, to one decimal place.

4. Check the Rounding: The number at the first decimal place is 7, and the next number is 8, which is greater than 5, so we round up the first decimal place. This makes the rounded result 38.8.

Therefore, the best answer is 38.8.