Questions and Answers
Which of the following digits is always significant in a number?
Non-zero digits
What is the rule for determining the number of significant figures in a result of multiplication or division?
The result has the same number of significant figures as the number with the fewest significant figures
What is the purpose of significant figures in scientific calculations and reporting?
To indicate the precision of a measurement
How many significant figures are in the number 100.0?
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What is the rule for rounding a number when the digit to be dropped is 5 or greater?
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Which of the following zeros is never significant in a number?
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Study Notes
Rules for Significant Figures
Non-Zero Digits
- Count as significant figures
- Always significant
Zeros
- Leading zeros: never significant
- Trailing zeros: significant only if the number contains a decimal point
- Zeros between non-zero digits: always significant
Rules for Operations
- Addition and Subtraction: the result has the same number of decimal places as the number with the fewest decimal places
- Multiplication and Division: the result has the same number of significant figures as the number with the fewest significant figures
Rounding Rules
- If the digit to be dropped is 5 or greater, increase the preceding digit by 1
- If the digit to be dropped is 4 or less, leave the preceding digit unchanged
Examples
- 45.6: 3 significant figures
- 0.00456: 3 significant figures
- 3.14159: 6 significant figures
- 100.0: 4 significant figures
Importance of Significant Figures
- Indicates the precision of a measurement
- Helps to avoid misleading or false precision
- Essential in scientific calculations and reporting
Rules for Significant Figures
- Non-zero digits are always significant and count as significant figures
- Leading zeros are never significant
- Trailing zeros are significant only if the number contains a decimal point
- Zeros between non-zero digits are always significant
Rules for Operations
- In addition and subtraction, the result has the same number of decimal places as the number with the fewest decimal places
- In multiplication and division, the result has the same number of significant figures as the number with the fewest significant figures
Rounding Rules
- If the digit to be dropped is 5 or greater, increase the preceding digit by 1
- If the digit to be dropped is 4 or less, leave the preceding digit unchanged
Examples of Significant Figures
- 45.6 has 3 significant figures
- 0.00456 has 3 significant figures
- 3.14159 has 6 significant figures
- 100.0 has 4 significant figures
Importance of Significant Figures
- They indicate the precision of a measurement
- They help avoid misleading or false precision
- They are essential in scientific calculations and reporting
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