Significant Figures

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 determine the number of significant figures in a number?

Back

Count all non-zero digits, any zeros between them, and trailing zeros in a decimal number. Leading zeros are not counted.

Front

Which of the following has three significant figures: 1014, 101, 1000?

Back

1014 has four significant figures, 101 has three significant figures, and 1000 has one significant figure (unless specified with a decimal).

Front

Round 0.010229 to four significant figures.

Back

0.01023

Front

When adding or subtracting numbers, how do you determine the number of significant figures in the result?

Back

The result should be rounded to the least number of decimal places of any number in the operation.

Front

Calculate 12.34 + 1.234 + 0.1234 and give the answer with the correct number of significant figures.

Back

13.70

Front

When multiplying or dividing numbers, how do you determine the number of significant figures in the result?

Back

The result should have the same number of significant figures as the number with the least significant figures in the operation.

Front

Calculate 7.987 m - 0.54 m and give the answer with the correct number of significant figures.

Back

7.45 m

Front

What is 0.658 rounded to 1 significant figure?

Back

0.7

Front

What is the significance of trailing zeros in a decimal number?

Back

Trailing zeros in a decimal number are significant because they indicate precision.