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Re: A weighty subject

Arlyn DeBruyckere wrote:

It is also a problem in teaching them about significant figures that 40 Lb
(1 sig fig) can be equal to 18.1 Kg (3 sig figs). They don't understand
why I get upset when they measure 20 ml and then decide to record 20.00 ml
because I told them they should measure to the nearest .01 ml.

I would have said that the value 40 pounds is precise to 2 sigfig. Not all
final zeros are insignificant; it depends on the context.

poj