High School

Select the answer with the correct number of significant figures for the calculation:

[tex]$31.580 + 4.26 = $[/tex]

A. 35.8
B. 35.84
C. 35.840

Answer :

To determine the correct number of significant figures for the addition of 31.580 and 4.26, follow these steps:

1. Identify the Decimal Places:
- The number 31.580 has three decimal places.
- The number 4.26 has two decimal places.

2. Perform the Addition:
Add the numbers together:
[tex]\[
31.580 + 4.26 = 35.840
\][/tex]

3. Determine the Number of Decimal Places in the Answer:
When adding numbers, the result should have the same number of decimal places as the number with the fewest decimal places in the original problem. Here, 4.26 has two decimal places, which is the fewest.

4. Round the Result:
The unrounded sum is 35.840. Since we need two decimal places, the sum remains:
[tex]\[
35.84
\][/tex]

The answer with the correct number of significant figures for the calculation [tex]\(31.580 + 4.26\)[/tex] is 35.84.