Mastering 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 number?

Back

Count all non-zero digits, any zeros between them, and trailing zeros in a decimal number. Leading zeros are not counted.

Front

What is the significance of significant figures in calculations?

Back

Significant figures indicate the precision of measurements and calculations, ensuring that results are not presented with more certainty than the data allows.

Front

How do you perform addition and subtraction with significant figures?

Back

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

Front

How do you perform multiplication and division with significant figures?

Back

The result should be rounded to the least number of significant figures of any number in the operation.

Front

What is the result of 15 / 4.0 / 0.003?

Back

2000 (with 1 significant figure from 0.003).

Front

What is the result of 5.00002 + 4.94005 + 7.0032 + 1.0432 + 0.000048?

Back

17.9865 (rounded to 4 significant figures).

Front

What is the result of 3.4 x 500 x 2.14?

Back

4000 (rounded to 2 significant figures from 3.4).

Front

How many significant figures does the value 160 have?

Back

2 significant figures.

Front

Round 4.003 to 2 significant figures.

Back

4.0.