To find the answer to the expression 7.4 + 51.87 with the correct significant figures, follow these steps:
1. Addition of the numbers:
- First, add the two numbers together:
[tex]\[
7.4 + 51.87 = 59.27
\][/tex]
2. Determine significant figures based on decimal places:
- When performing addition or subtraction, the result should have the same number of decimal places as the quantity with the fewest decimal places.
- In this expression, 7.4 has 1 decimal place, and 51.87 has 2 decimal places.
- Therefore, the result should be rounded to 1 decimal place (the fewest number of decimal places in the given numbers).
3. Rounding to the correct number of decimal places:
- The unrounded sum is 59.27.
- We need to round 59.27 to 1 decimal place.
- When rounded to one decimal place, 59.27 becomes 59.3.
So, the expression 7.4 + 51.87 with the correct significant figures is:
[tex]\[
59.3
\][/tex]
