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The rules for identifying significant figures when writing or interpreting numbers are as follows:

All non-zero digits are considered significant. For example, 91 has two significant figures (9 and 1), while 123.45 has five significant figures (1, 2, 3, 4 and 5).

Zeros appearing anywhere between two non-zero digits are significant. Example: 101.1203 has seven significant figures: 1, 0, 1, 1, 2, 0 and 3.

Leading zeros are not significant. For example, 0.00052 has two significant figures: 5 and 2.

Trailing zeros in a number containing a decimal point are significant. For example, 12.2300 has six significant figures: 1, 2, 2, 3, 0 and 0. The number 0.000122300 still has only six significant figures (the zeros before the 1 are not significant). In addition, 120.00 has five significant figures since it has three trailing zeros.

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Rules in determining significant figures in four fundamental operations?

The simple rule is: no more significant figures than the least accurate of the values in the computation. For multiplication and division, the result should have as many significant figures as the measured number with the smallest number of significant figures. For addition and subtraction, the result should have as many decimal places as the measured number with the smallest number of decimal places. (Rounding off can be tricky, but that would be another thread)


What is the significant figures of the number of 23.400?

There are five significant figures in the given value. It is according to the rule of significant figures which say that zeros right to the decimal point are significant and all non zero digits are significant So , all the digits in the given value are significant figures i.e 5 significant figures.


How many significant figures are in 0.041?

There are 2 because of the leading zeros rule. Zeros at the beginning of a number are never significant.


In adding the measurements 11.075m 18.2m and 16.943m what should be the number of significant figures in result?

Forget about "significant figures"; those are used to determine the precision when you multiply or divide. When adding numbers, the rule is that the result should be rounded according to the precision of the least accurate of the addents. In this case, to one decimal digit.


What are slide rule's disadvantages?

The main disadvantage is that in may cases the level of precision is limited to three significant figures.

Related Questions

How to multiply and divide numbers while considering significant figures?

When multiplying or dividing numbers with significant figures, the result should have the same number of significant figures as the factor with the fewest significant figures. Round the final answer to match this rule.


A student calculates the density of an unknown solid The mass is 10.04 grams and the volume is 8.21 cubic centimeters How many significant figures should appear in the final answer?

The general rule is that the final result should not be more accurate than the numbers used to obtain this final result. In the case of a multiplication or division, this means that the final result can't have more significant digits than the original numbers. One of the numbers has 4 significant figures, the other 3; therefore, the final result should be rounded to 3 significant figures. If more significant figures are quoted, a special note should be made that the last digits are uncertain.The general rule is that the final result should not be more accurate than the numbers used to obtain this final result. In the case of a multiplication or division, this means that the final result can't have more significant digits than the original numbers. One of the numbers has 4 significant figures, the other 3; therefore, the final result should be rounded to 3 significant figures. If more significant figures are quoted, a special note should be made that the last digits are uncertain.The general rule is that the final result should not be more accurate than the numbers used to obtain this final result. In the case of a multiplication or division, this means that the final result can't have more significant digits than the original numbers. One of the numbers has 4 significant figures, the other 3; therefore, the final result should be rounded to 3 significant figures. If more significant figures are quoted, a special note should be made that the last digits are uncertain.The general rule is that the final result should not be more accurate than the numbers used to obtain this final result. In the case of a multiplication or division, this means that the final result can't have more significant digits than the original numbers. One of the numbers has 4 significant figures, the other 3; therefore, the final result should be rounded to 3 significant figures. If more significant figures are quoted, a special note should be made that the last digits are uncertain.


When you add or subtract what is the rule for determining the number of significant figures in the answer?

When adding or subtracting numbers, the result should have the same number of decimal places as the least number of decimal places in the original numbers. This is because in these operations, you are limited by the least precise measurement. Significance figures don't matter in addition or subtraction, only decimal places.


What is the rule you use to determine the number of significant figures in the results of addition and subtraction?

The least number of significant figures in any number of the problem determines the number of significant figures in the answer.


Rules in determining significant figures in four fundamental operations?

The simple rule is: no more significant figures than the least accurate of the values in the computation. For multiplication and division, the result should have as many significant figures as the measured number with the smallest number of significant figures. For addition and subtraction, the result should have as many decimal places as the measured number with the smallest number of decimal places. (Rounding off can be tricky, but that would be another thread)


What is Pacific-Atlantic Rule for significant figures?

It's for determining the number of significant figures. Think of the U.S. in a map. The Atlantic Ocean is to the right. Pacific to left. If a decimal is present, start counting from the "Pacific" (left). If absent, count from "Atlantic" (right). So, what are we counting? We count the first nonzero digit we encounter; and all subsequent digits. E.G.: 432.30 gram has 5 sig figs. 6,000 has 1 sig fig.


What is the significant figures of the number of 23.400?

There are five significant figures in the given value. It is according to the rule of significant figures which say that zeros right to the decimal point are significant and all non zero digits are significant So , all the digits in the given value are significant figures i.e 5 significant figures.


What is the law in determining significant figure?

The rules for identifying significant figures when writing or interpreting numbers are as follows: 1. All non-zero digits are considered significant. For example, 91 has two significant figures (9 and 1), while 123.45 has five significant figures (1, 2, 3, 4 and 5). 2. Zeros appearing anywhere between two non-zero digits are significant. Example: 101.1203 has seven significant figures: 1, 0, 1, 1, 2, 0 and 3. 3. Leading zeros are not significant. For example, 0.00052 has two significant figures: 5 and 2. 4. Trailing zeros in a number containing a decimal point are significant. For example, 12.2300 has six significant figures: 1, 2, 2, 3, 0 and 0. The number 0.000122300 still has only six significant figures (the zeros before the 1 are not significant). In addition, 120.00 has five significant figures since it has three trailing zeros.


What is the rule about significant figures when multiplying or dividing measurement?

the decimal place in the quotient or product should be based in the decimal place of the given with the least significant figures


How many significant figures are in 0.041?

There are 2 because of the leading zeros rule. Zeros at the beginning of a number are never significant.


In adding the measurements 11.075m 18.2m and 16.943m what should be the number of significant figures in result?

Forget about "significant figures"; those are used to determine the precision when you multiply or divide. When adding numbers, the rule is that the result should be rounded according to the precision of the least accurate of the addents. In this case, to one decimal digit.


How many significant figures are in 14 plus 3.078?

Take the least number of decimal places when adding or subtracting, therefore the answer is 17 to no decimal places.If it was 14 x 3.078 the answer would be 43 to 2 significant figures. The rule for multiplication/division is to use the least number of sig figs in the components: 14 has 2 and 3.078 has 4 so the answer should use 2.