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A decminal place is simply the number of digits to the right of the decimal in a number. For instance, 37.5834 has four decimal places. In contrast, a significant figure is the number of digits on either side of the decimal place that can be counted as accurate in a calculation. Significant figures are used to determine how accurate a calculation is based on how accurate the measurements are.
Significant figures are determined by counting the number of significant figures in the numbers given in a problem (usually in chemistry or physics) then using the lowest count found. Here's an example:
"calculate the average velocity of a car that has travelled 45 km in 60 minutes." The number "45" has two significant figures while the number "60" has one significant figure. Therefore, when calculating the velocity (45/60), the answer can have only one significant figure: 0.8 km/min. However, if the time was written as "60.0" minutes, then this number would have three significant figures and the answer could have two significant figures (0.75 km/min) because the number "45" had two significant figures.
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Does a zero after a decimal count as a significant figure?
no
How do you round 0.00076321 into 3 significant?
Two rules associated with significant figure :-. When rounding off numbers is "If the first figure to be discarded is 5 or more then the previous figure is increased by 1". Zeros must be kept to show the position of the decimal point or to indicate that zero is a significant figure. Then 0.000 must be kept to show the position of the decimal point. 763 are thus the three significant figures and no change is required as the first figure to be discarded is 2 and this is less than 5. The answer to 3 significant figures is 0.000763
How many significant digits are 0.1020?
0.1020 is a number to 4 significant figures. The rule is that "Zeros must be kept to show the position of the decimal point or to indicate that zero is a significant figure." Then the leading zero before the decimal point is retained as this shows the position of the decimal point. The zero between 1 and 2 is a key part of the number. The final zero (after 2) is a significant figure otherwise the number would be written 0.102. Consequently, the 4 significant figures are "1020" but are presented as 0.1020 to ensure the true value of the number is accurately given.
0.1709 to 1 significant figure?
0.1
How many significant figures in 0.020?
.020 has two significant figures: 2 and 0 A significant figure are digits that contain meaning contributing to precision. All numbers are considered meaningful except for zero, unless zero is between two other numbers or tailing non zero numbers where a decimal is present.
