Rounding to a fixed number of significant figures means keeping exactly that many digits counted from the first non-zero digit, and using the very next digit only to decide whether the last kept digit stays the same or increases by one.The rule: look at the digit immediately after the last significant figure you are keeping.
If it is less than $\displaystyle 5$, drop it and everything after it — the last kept digit is unchanged.
If it is $\displaystyle 5$ or more, drop it and everything after it — the last kept digit increases by 1.
Leading zeros (before the first non-zero digit) are never significant, so they are never counted when you count "three figures," but they still have to stay in the answer to hold the decimal point in place.
(i) $\displaystyle 34.216$The digits, in order, are \(\displaystyle 3, 4, 2, 1, 6\). The first three significant figures are \(\displaystyle 3, 4, 2\). The next digit is \(\displaystyle 1\), which is less than $\displaystyle 5$, so the third figure stays as it is.
\[34.216 \rightarrow 34.2
\]
(ii) $\displaystyle 10.4107$The significant digits are \(\displaystyle 1, 0, 4, 1, 0, 7\) (this leading $\displaystyle 1$ and the internal zero both count — a zero between non-zero digits, or a non-zero leading digit, is always significant). Keeping the first three gives \(\displaystyle 1, 0, 4\). The next digit is \(\displaystyle 1\), less than $\displaystyle 5$, so nothing changes.
\[10.4107 \rightarrow 10.4
\]
(iii) $\displaystyle 0.04597$Here the two zeros right after the decimal point (\(\displaystyle 0.0\ldots\)) are leading zeros — they only place the decimal point and are not significant. The significant digits start at the first non-zero digit: \(\displaystyle 4, 5, 9, 7\). Keeping three of them gives \(\displaystyle 4, 5, 9\), with the next digit \(\displaystyle 7\), which is $\displaystyle 5$ or more, so the last kept digit \(\displaystyle 9\) rounds up by 1. This is the step people miss: rounding up a $\displaystyle 9$ carries into the digit before it, \(\displaystyle 59 + 1 = 60\), so the three-figure block becomes \(\displaystyle 460\) written back in its original place:
\[0.04597 \rightarrow 0.0460
\]
The trailing zero here is required — it is the third significant figure, not decoration, and dropping it would silently claim only two figures of precision.
(iv) $\displaystyle 2808$The digits are \(\displaystyle 2, 8, 0, 8\). The first three significant figures are \(\displaystyle 2, 8, 0\). The next digit is \(\displaystyle 8\), which is $\displaystyle 5$ or more, so the last kept digit \(\displaystyle 0\) rounds up by $\displaystyle 1$, giving \(\displaystyle 281\). Since the original number is a whole number in the thousands, this three-figure value has to be scaled back up to the right place — one more digit is needed to mark where the number actually ends, so a zero is appended to hold that place:
\[2808 \rightarrow 2810
\]
That final zero is a placeholder fixing the magnitude, not a fourth significant figure.
Answer: (i) $\displaystyle 34.2$ (ii) $\displaystyle 10.4$ (iii) $\displaystyle 0.0460$ (iv) $\displaystyle 2810$