Given: (52.6 cm)(1.214 cm) What is the product expressed to the correct number of significant figures?
1.
64 cm2
2.
63.9 cm2
3.
63.86 cm2
4.
63.8564 cm2

2.

63.9 cm2

Explanation:

All non-zero digits are consider significant figures like 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.

Leading zeros are not consider as a significant figures. e.g. 0.06 in this number only one significant figure present which is 6.

Zero between the non zero digits are consider significant like 108 consist of three significant figures.

The zeros at the right side e.g 240000 are also significant. There are six significant figures are present.

When we add or subtract the values the number of significant figures after decimal in result must be equal to the given measurement having less number of decimal places.  For example,

The difference between 7.69 and 4.0.

7.69 - 4.0 = 3.7

When we multiply or divide the values the number of significant figures must be equal to the less number of significant figures in given value.

For example in given q:

52.6 cm × 1.214 cm = 63.9 cm²

it is the most commonly accepted one