Significant Figures Rules Quiz

Rules for Significant Figures

• All nonzero digits carry significance in measurements.
• Any zeros that exist between nonzero digits are also considered significant.
• Leading zeros, located before the first nonzero digit, do not count as significant figures.
• Trailing zeros after a whole number that has a decimal point are classified as significant.
• Trailing zeros found to the right of a decimal point are significant, enhancing the precision of the measurement.

Examples of Significant Figures

• The number 300042 comprises six significant digits, emphasizing the importance of all numbers in determining efficacy.
• In the example of 0.000034, there are two significant digits, illustrating that zeros before nonzero digits do not contribute.
• For 0.0002500, the figure accounts for four significant digits, indicating that trailing zeros are counted when a decimal is involved.
• The whole number 190000 has only two significant digits, as trailing zeros in whole numbers without a decimal point are considered ambiguous—favoring a conservative interpretation.