Significant Figures and Scientific Notation

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 significant digits, and trailing zeros in a decimal number. Leading zeros are not counted.

Front

Round 1009 to three significant figures.

Back

1010

Front

Round 1047.78 to three significant figures.

Back

1050

Front

How many significant figures does the number 100.3 have?

Back

4

Front

How many significant figures does the number 100.00210 have?

Back

8

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 ten.

Front

Express 7.89 x 10^-8 in common notation.

Back

0.0000000789

Front

What is the purpose of using significant figures in calculations?

Back

Significant figures help convey the precision of measurements and calculations, ensuring that results are not overstated.

Front

How do you add or subtract numbers in scientific notation?

Back

To add or subtract, the numbers must have the same exponent. Adjust the numbers as needed, then add or subtract the coefficients.