In the number 0.002609, the number of significant figures is ______.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: D
Explanation
The correct answer is option 4 i.e. Four.
In the number 0.002609, the total number of significant figures is four. Leading zeros, which are the zeros before the first non-zero digit, are not counted as significant because they only indicate the position of the decimal point. The digits 2, 6, 0, and 9 are all significant because they represent measured or known values. The zero between 6 and 9 is significant because it is a captive zero, meaning it’s sandwiched between non-zero digits and therefore counts as significant. Thus, 0.002609 contains four significant figures, reflecting the precision of the measurement or value.