Significant Figures and Bounds
Significant figures are all about identifying which digits actually matter in a number. To find them, you need to locate the first non-zero digit - that's your starting point for counting.
Let's break down the example: in 41,786, the first significant figure is 4, and the second is 1. When rounding to 2 significant figures, you get 42,000. Notice how the zeros at the end don't count as significant figures here.
Bounds help you understand the range of possible values when dealing with rounded numbers. If you have 23 rounded to the nearest whole number, the lower bound is 22.5 and the upper bound is 23.5.
Quick tip: Remember that the actual value could be anywhere from 22.5 up to (but not including) 23.5 - this range is what makes bounds so useful for error calculations!