Solution If you multiply 12.71 m by 3.46 m on your calcula- tor, you will see an answer of 43.976 6 m2. How many of these numbers should you claim? Our rule of thumb for multiplica- tion tells us that you can claim only the number of significant figures in your answer as are present in the measured quan- tity having the lowest number of significant figures. In this ex- ample, the lowest number of significant figures is three in 3.46 m, so we should express our final answer as 44.0 m2.