What are the number of significant figures in 0.083476 and the absolute value of -20?

a) There are 5 significant figures in the number 0.083476.
To count significant figures:

• Non-zero digits are always significant ($8, 3, 4, 7, 6$).
• Leading zeros (zeros before non-zero digits) are not significant (0.0). Therefore, the significant figures are $8, 3, 4, 7, 6$, which is a total of 5 significant figures.

$$\boxed{5}$$

b) The absolute value of $-20$ is 20.
The absolute value of a number is its distance from zero, always a non-negative value.

$$|-20| = 20$$ $$\boxed{20}$$