Mastering Significant Figures

What are the rules for determining significant figures?

• The rules for determining significant figures include counting all non-zero digits, zeros between significant digits, and trailing zeros in decimal numbers, while ignoring leading zeros and trailing zeros in whole numbers without a decimal.

• All zeros are considered significant regardless of their position.

• Trailing zeros in whole numbers are always significant.

• Only count non-zero digits and ignore all zeros.

How many significant figures are in the number 0.00456?

• 2

• 5

• 4

• 3

Round the number 3.678 to two significant figures.

• 3.7

• 3.6

• 4.0

• 3.68

What is the scientific notation for the number 4500?

• 4.5 x 10^4

• 45 x 10^2

• 0.45 x 10^4

• 4.5 x 10^3

How many significant figures are in the number 100.0?

• 4

• 5

• 2

• 3

When adding 12.11 and 0.3, how many significant figures should the answer have?

• 1 decimal place

• 3 decimal places

• 1 significant figure

• 2 decimal places

Convert the number 0.000123 to scientific notation.

• 1.23 x 10^-5

• 0.123 x 10^-3

• 1.23 x 10^4

• 1.23 x 10^-4

What is the result of multiplying 2.5 (2 significant figures) by 3.14 (3 significant figures)?

• 7.9

• 9.0

• 8.2

• 6.5

How do you round the number 7.856 to three significant figures?

• 7.9

• 7.86

• 8.00

• 7.85

What is the scientific notation for 0.000789?

• 78.9 x 10^-5

• 0.789 x 10^-3

• 7.89 x 10^-4

• 7.89 x 10^4