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 express a number in scientific notation?

Back

To express a number in scientific notation, write it as a product of a number between 1 and 10 and a power of 10. For example, 23400 = 2.34 x 10^4.

Front

What is the scientific notation for 564,000,000?

Back

5.64 x 10^8.

Front

How many significant figures are in the number 0.998005?

Back

There are 6 significant figures in 0.998005.

Front

What is the difference between accuracy and precision?

Back

Accuracy refers to how close a measurement is to the accepted value, while precision refers to how consistent repeated measurements are.

Front

How do you determine the number of significant figures in a measurement?

Back

Count all non-zero digits, any zeros between significant digits, and trailing zeros in the decimal portion. Leading zeros are not counted.

Front

What is the scientific notation for 0.00056?

Back

5.6 x 10^-4.

Front

How do you round to three significant figures?

Back

Look at the fourth significant figure. If it is 5 or greater, round up the third significant figure. If it is less than 5, keep the third significant figure as is.

Front

What is the scientific notation for 0.0045?

Back

4.5 x 10^-3.

Front

What is the purpose of using scientific notation?

Back

Scientific notation simplifies the representation of very large or very small numbers, making them easier to read and work with.