What is the main purpose for learning about significant figures in science and/or technology courses?

Significant figures are important to show the precision of your answer. This is important in science and engineering because no measuring device can make a measurement with 100% precision. Using Significant figures allows the scientist to know how precise the answer is, or how much uncertainty there is.

with such great emphasis put on the act and sat exams—the studying, the review sessions, taking the test, retaking the test, scholarships dependent on scores, etc.—many think the scores are the be all end all of college applications. if you have a high score, you can get into any college you want. if you have a low score, you’re doomed.