Sig Figs and Rounding

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 rounding in multiplication and division?

Back

In multiplication and division, the result should be rounded to the same number of significant figures as the measurement with the least number of significant figures.

Front

What is the rule for rounding in addition and subtraction?

Back

In addition and subtraction, the result should be rounded to the same number of decimal places as the measurement with the least number of decimal places.

Front

Round 0.00456 to 2 significant figures.

Back

0.0046

Front

Round 123.456 to 3 significant figures.

Back

123.

Front

What is scientific notation?

Back

Scientific notation is a way of expressing numbers as a product of a number between 1 and 10 and a power of 10.

Front

Convert 0.00045 to scientific notation.

Back

4.5 x 10^-4

Front

Convert 150000 to scientific notation.

Back

1.5 x 10^5

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.