Question

Express the sine of$\mathbf{30}\mathbf{.}\mathbf{0}\mathbf{°}$with the correct number of significant figures.

Short answer

The required number in significant figures is $0.500$.

Step-by-step solution

Step 1. Significant figures

For estimating the number of significant figures, the following rules are followed:

• In a number, all the leading zeroes are non-significant.
• The zero lying between two non-zero digits is significant.

The given angle is $\theta =30°$.

The expression to determine the significant figures is $\sin \theta$.

Step 2. Applications of significant figures

The following are two examples of significant figures:

There are four significant figures in the value $160.0\mathrm{mm}$.

There are three significant figures in the value $16.0\mathrm{cm}$.

To determine the significant figures, take the known values in the above expression:

$\begin{array}{l}\sin 30°\\ 0.500\end{array}$

Thus, there are three significant figures in the given number.