Determining Number of Significant Figures (Sig Figs)
1.All non-zero numbers are significant. 6924 has four sig figs.
2.Leading zeros are not significant. 0.0003679 has four sig figs.
3.Zeros between other significant figures are significant. 0.00041092 has five sig figs.
4.Trailing zeros are significant if there is a decimal. 0.046802000 has eight sig figs.
Multiplication and Division
Round the answer to the same number of significant figures (sig figs) as the measurement with the fewest sig figs in the problem.
34.9cm x 4.7cm = 164.03cm2 = 160cm2 (rounded to two sig figs)
271.0g/99.8cm3 = 2.71543g/cm3 = 2.72g/cm3 (rounded to three sig figs)
Addition and Subtraction
Round the answer to the fewest decimal places as the measurement with the fewest decimal places.
9.45kg + 8.329kg = 17.78kg (rounded to two decimal places)
Rounding Rules:
1) If the number to be dropped is less than four, keep the number in front the same. So 3.43 would be rounded to 3.4 .
2) If the number to be dropped is greater than five, round the number in front up by 1. So 3.46 would be rounded to 3.5 .
3) If the number to be dropped is exactly five, keep the number in front the same if it is even. If the number in front is odd, round up by 1. So 4.65 rounds to 4.6, and 4.75 rounds to 4.8.
Regarding Rounding Rule 3: Many, if not most teachers teach that if the number to be dropped is five or greater, round up by 1, regardless of whether the number before the five is even or odd. So that 4.65 would round to 4.7, and 4.75 would round to 4.8.
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The rules of significant figures are as follows;1) Significant figures are the first digit in the number that isn't a '0'. Doesn't matter how far behind or in front of the decimal point it is.1st Significant figure of 5098 is 5000. The first number that isn't a '0'.When you get onto the 2nd is when it gets confusing. After the first significant figure, any number which comes after it is a significant figure regardless of whether it is a Zero.Thus the second significant figure of 5098, is 5000 too.And the third? Well, it's the third number in.So the third is 5090.In addition, you add significant figures like any other number. Due to the fact that it is rounded off, however, it will not be exact.
the precision of the answer must have the same number of significant digits as the measurement with the least significant digits- the site explains the rules and how to identify significant digits
37.753 rounded to one significant figure becomes 40
The first significant figure of 0.000169 is the 1 and it has 3 significant figures.
To round 233.356 to 2 significant figures, you first identify the first two non-zero digits from the left, which are 2 and 3. The digit after the second significant figure is 3. Since 3 is greater than 5, you round up the last significant figure. Therefore, rounding 233.356 to 2 significant figures gives you 230.