Scientific Notation and Significant Figures

Front

What is scientific notation?

Back

A method of expressing numbers as a product of a coefficient and a power of ten, e.g., 3.0 x 10^4.

Front

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

Back

Count all non-zero digits, any zeros between significant digits, and trailing zeros in a decimal number.

Front

How many significant figures are in the number 0.00456?

Back

3 significant figures (4, 5, and 6).

Front

What is the rule for significant figures in addition and subtraction?

Back

The result should have the same number of decimal places as the measurement with the least decimal places.

Front

What is the rule for significant figures in multiplication and division?

Back

The result should have the same number of significant figures as the measurement with the least significant figures.

Front

How many significant figures are in the number 100.0?

Back

4 significant figures.

Front

Calculate: 3.00 x 10^2 + 4.0 x 10^1

Back

3.40 x 10^2 (2 decimal places).

Front

Calculate: 6.02 x 10^23 / 2.0 x 10^2

Back

3.01 x 10^21 (2 significant figures).

Front

How many significant figures are in the number 0.007890?

Back

4 significant figures (7, 8, 9, and the trailing 0).

Front

What is a trailing zero?

Back

A zero at the end of a number that may or may not be significant, depending on the presence of a decimal point.