significant figures and calculations

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 measurement?

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 rule for addition and subtraction regarding significant figures?

Back

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

Front

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

Back

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

Front

Calculate 5.50 cm + 5.50 cm and give your answer with the appropriate number of significant figures.

Back

11.00 cm

Front

How many significant figures will be in the answer to 7.62 x 6.98 x 3.2645?

Back

3

Front

Calculate 12.34 + 1.234 + 0.1234 and give your answer with the appropriate number of significant figures.

Back

13.70

Front

The dimensions of a rectangular solid are measured to be 1.27 cm, 1.3 cm, and 2.5 cm. What should the volume be recorded as?

Back

4.1 cm³.

Front

Calculate 7.8 x 5.501 and give your answer with the appropriate number of significant figures.

Back

42.

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 in the measurement.