Significant Figures

Front

What are significant figures?

Back

Significant figures are the digits in a number that contribute to its precision. This includes 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 whole number without a decimal point?

Back

Count all non-zero digits. Leading zeros are not counted. Trailing zeros are not counted unless there is a decimal point.

Front

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

Back

Count all digits starting from the first non-zero digit on the left. All zeros to the right of a decimal point and after a non-zero digit are significant.

Front

How many significant figures are in the number 100000000?

Back

1 significant figure.

Front

How many significant figures are in the number 9009.00?

Back

6 significant figures.

Front

How many significant figures are in the number 0.998005?

Back

6 significant figures.

Front

How many significant figures are in the number 5.00000008?

Back

9 significant figures.

Front

When multiplying or dividing numbers, how do you determine the number of significant figures in the result?

Back

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

Front

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

Back

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

Front

Calculate 0.020 cm x 50 cm x 11.1 cm and give your answer with the correct number of significant figures.

Back

10 cm³.