Significant Figures in Measurement and Calculations

What is the primary purpose of significant figures in science and engineering?

• To make numbers look more complex

• To determine the reliability and certainty of measurements

• To confuse students

• To simplify calculations

How many significant figures are in the measurement 28.5 degrees?

• Five

• Two

• Three

• Four

What does an estimated digit in a measurement indicate?

• The exact value

• The maximum value

• The uncertainty in the measurement

• The average value

In a number with a decimal point, which digits are considered significant?

• Only the zeros

• Only the digits before the decimal point

• Only the digits after the decimal point

• The leftmost non-zero digit and all digits to its right

How many significant figures are in the number 38.0500?

• Seven

• Six

• Five

• Four

What is the significance of leading zeros in a number with a decimal point?

• They are counted as significant figures

• They are not significant

• They indicate the precision of the measurement

• They are always significant

What is the rule for significant figures in exact numbers?

• They have a limited number of significant figures

• They have unlimited significant figures

• They have only one significant figure

• They have no significant figures

How many significant figures does the number 1 inch = 25.4 millimeters have?

• Unlimited

• Two

• One

• Three

When multiplying or dividing, to how many significant figures should the result be rounded?

• To two decimal places

• To the nearest whole number

• To the same number of significant figures as the factor with the least significant figures

• To the same number of significant figures as the factor with the most significant figures

In addition and subtraction, how is the number of decimal places in the result determined?

• By the average number of decimal places

• By the number with the least decimal places

• By the number with the most decimal places

• By the total number of decimal places