Scientific Notation and Sig Figs

Front

What is scientific notation?

Back

A method of expressing numbers as a product of a coefficient and a power of 10, e.g., 3.0 x 10^4.

Front

How do you convert a number to scientific notation?

Back

Move the decimal point in the number until only one non-zero digit remains to its left, then multiply by 10 raised to the number of places the decimal was moved.

Front

What are significant figures?

Back

Digits in a number that contribute to its precision, including all non-zero digits, zeros between significant digits, and trailing zeros in the decimal portion.

Front

How many significant figures are in the number 10.7301?

Back

6

Front

How many significant figures are in the number 0.1024574?

Back

7

Front

Convert 0.000398 to scientific notation.

Back

3.98 x 10^-4

Front

How many significant figures are in the number 0.024507400?

Back

8

Front

How many significant figures are in the number 240,000?

Back

2 (unless specified otherwise with a decimal point).

Front

What is the rule for counting significant figures in a number with a decimal point?

Back

All non-zero digits are significant, any zeros between significant digits are significant, and trailing zeros in the decimal portion are significant.

Front

What is the rule for counting significant figures in a whole number without a decimal point?

Back

All non-zero digits are significant, but trailing zeros are not significant unless specified by a decimal point.