Question

Express the following sum to the appropriate number of significant figures:

2.3 × 10³ mL + 4.22 × 10⁴ mL + 9.04 × 10³ mL + 8.71 × 10⁵ mL

Answer 1

To perform an addition/subtraction operation, first, the numbers are written in such a way that they have the same exponent. The coefficients are then added/subtracted.
(0.23 × 10⁴ mL) + (4.22 × 10⁴ mL) + (0.904 × 10⁴ mL) + (87.1 × 10⁴ mL)

= (0.23 + 4.22 + 0.904 +87.1) × 10⁴ mL

= 92.454 × 10⁴ mL

Sum to an appropriate number of significant figures = 92.454 × 10⁴ mL