Understanding Significant Figures

The video tutorial explains the rules for determining significant figures in numbers and measurements. It covers the significance of non-zero digits, zeros between non-zero digits, leading zeros, and trailing zeros. The tutorial also discusses the use of scientific notation to clearly indicate the number of significant figures, emphasizing the importance of precision in measurements.

Which digits are always considered significant in a number?

• All digits in a number

• Only non-zero digits

• Non-zero digits and zeros between them

• Only zeros

What is the significance of leading zeros in a number?

• They are not significant

• They are always significant

• They are significant only if they are between non-zero digits

• They are significant only if followed by a decimal

When are trailing zeros considered significant?

• When they are at the end of a number

• When they are between non-zero digits

• When there is a decimal point in the number

• When they are at the beginning of a number

How many significant figures are in the number 0.00450?

• Two

• Three

• Four

• Five

How should you interpret trailing zeros in a number without a decimal?

• They are significant only if followed by a non-zero digit

• It is ambiguous and depends on additional information

• They are never significant

• They are always significant

What is the best assumption if a number like 37000 is given without a decimal?

• It has five significant figures

• It is ambiguous and likely measured to the nearest thousand

• It has four significant figures

• It has three significant figures

What is a more modern way to indicate significant figures clearly?

• Using bars over digits

• Using scientific notation

• Using commas between digits

• Using brackets around digits

Which of the following numbers has three significant figures?

• 5.60 x 10^3

• 0.00560

• 5600

• 560

What does a bar over a digit in a number indicate?

• The digit is not significant

• The digit is the last significant digit

• The digit is a placeholder

• The digit is an error

If a number is written as 3.00 x 10^2, how many significant figures does it have?

• One

• Two

• Three

• Four