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 many significant figures are in the number 450 m?

Back

2 significant figures.

Front

Which of the following has one significant figure: 100 cm, 0.0001 cm, 2 cm, 2.00 cm?

Back

0.0001 cm, 100 cm, and 2 cm have one significant figure; 2.00 cm has four significant figures.

Front

How many significant figures are in the number 27000000?

Back

2 significant figures.

Front

How many significant figures does the number 0.002040 have?

Back

4 significant figures.

Front

When performing subtraction, how do you determine the number of significant figures in the result?

Back

The result should be reported with the same number of decimal places as the measurement with the least number of decimal places.

Front

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

Back

7.45 m.

Front

What is the rule for counting significant figures in a number with leading zeros?

Back

Leading zeros are not significant; they only serve as placeholders.

Front

What is the rule for counting significant figures in a number with trailing zeros?

Back

Trailing zeros in a decimal number are significant.

Front

How many significant figures are in the number 0.00456?

Back

3 significant figures.