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Questions and Answers
What is the number of significant figures in the result of the following calculation: 12.34 + 5.6?
What is the number of significant figures in the result of the following calculation: 12.34 + 5.6?
- 3 (correct)
- 5
- 2
- 4
What is the number of significant figures in the result of the following calculation: 1.23 x 4.567?
What is the number of significant figures in the result of the following calculation: 1.23 x 4.567?
- 2
- 4 (correct)
- 5
- 3
What is the number of significant figures in the measurement 0.00500 m?
What is the number of significant figures in the measurement 0.00500 m?
- 2
- 5
- 3 (correct)
- 1
How many significant figures are in the number 28.00?
How many significant figures are in the number 28.00?
What is the number of significant figures in the result of the following calculation: (12.34 + 5.6) / 2.00?
What is the number of significant figures in the result of the following calculation: (12.34 + 5.6) / 2.00?
Flashcards
Significant Figures
Significant Figures
The digits in a number that contribute to its precision, including all certain digits and the first uncertain digit.
Addition/Subtraction Rule
Addition/Subtraction Rule
In addition or subtraction, the result should have the same number of decimal places as the measurement with the least decimal places.
Multiplication/Division Rule
Multiplication/Division Rule
In multiplication or division, the result should have the same number of significant figures as the measurement with the least significant figures.
Counting Significant Figures
Counting Significant Figures
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Rounding Off in Calculations
Rounding Off in Calculations
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Study Notes
Significant Figures in Measurements
- Significant figures (sig figs) indicate the reliability of a measurement
- They report the precision of a measurement based on the instruments used
- All non-zero digits are significant
- Zeros between non-zero digits are significant
- Leading zeros are not significant
- Trailing zeros in a number containing a decimal point are significant
- Trailing zeros in a number without a decimal point are not significant
Significant Figures in Addition/Subtraction
- The result of addition or subtraction should have the same number of decimal places as the measurement with the fewest decimal places
- Example: 25.73 cm + 12 cm = 37.7 cm (12 cm only has one digit after the decimal point - therefore, the answer only has one)
Significant Figures in Multiplication/Division
- The result of multiplication or division should have the same number of significant figures as the measurement with the fewest significant figures
- Example: 22.5 cm * 3.1 cm = 69.75 cm2 = 70 cm2 (The 22.5 cm has three sig figs and 3.1 cm has two significant figures — the answer rounds to two significant figs).
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