Significant Figures

Front

What are significant figures?

Back

Significant figures are the digits in a number that contribute to its precision, including all non-zero digits, any zeros between significant digits, and trailing zeros in the decimal portion.

Front

How do you determine the number of significant figures in a measurement?

Back

To determine the number of significant figures, count all non-zero digits, any zeros between significant digits, and trailing zeros in a decimal number. Leading zeros are not counted.

Front

What is the rule for rounding when performing calculations with significant figures?

Back

When rounding, the result should be rounded to the least number of significant figures in any of the numbers used in the calculation.

Front

How do you round the number 0.00258954 to 4 significant figures?

Back

0.002590.

Front

In the number 0.0039270, which digits are significant?

Back

The significant digits are 39270.

Front

In the number 36000., which digits are significant?

Back

All digits (36000) are significant because of the decimal point.

Front

What is the significance of trailing zeros in a decimal number?

Back

Trailing zeros in a decimal number are significant because they indicate precision.

Front

How do you perform division with significant figures?

Back

When dividing, the result should be rounded to the same number of significant figures as the measurement with the least significant figures.

Front

What is the result of 1.3562 mL divided by 14.32 g, rounded to the correct number of significant figures?

Back

0.09471 mL/g.

Front

When adding or subtracting numbers, how do you determine the number of decimal places in the result?

Back

The result should be rounded to the least number of decimal places of any number in the operation.