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Module 2 Lesson 3

Significant figures indicate the precision of a measurement by showing the meaningful digits. They are determined by counting all non-zero digits and zeros between non-zeros. In calculations, the final answer cannot have more digits after the decimal than the least precise term. In addition and subtraction, round to the least decimal places. In multiplication and division, round to the same number of significant figures as the least precise term. Exact numbers defined by counting have infinite significant figures.

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36 views

Module 2 Lesson 3

Significant figures indicate the precision of a measurement by showing the meaningful digits. They are determined by counting all non-zero digits and zeros between non-zeros. In calculations, the final answer cannot have more digits after the decimal than the least precise term. In addition and subtraction, round to the least decimal places. In multiplication and division, round to the same number of significant figures as the least precise term. Exact numbers defined by counting have infinite significant figures.

Uploaded by

Abigail Carpio
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Significant Figures

Except when all the numbers involved are integers, it is often impossible to obtain the
exact value of the quantity under investigation. For this reason, it is important to indicate the
margin of error in a measurement by clearly indicating the number of significant figures, which
are the meaningful digits in a measured or calculated quantity. When significant figures are
used, the last digit is understood to be uncertain.

Guidelines for Using Significant Figures


In general, it is fairly easy to determine how many significant figures a number has by
following these rules:
1. Any digit that is not zero is significant. Thus 845 cm has three significant figures, 1.234
kg has four significant figures.
2. Zeros between nonzero digits are significant. Thus 606 m contains three significant
figures, 40,501 kg contains five significant figures.
3. Zeros to the left of the first nonzero digit are not significant. Their purpose is to
indicate the placement of the decimal point. For example, 0.08 L contains one significant
figure, 0.0000349 g contains three significant figures.
4. If a number is greater than 1, then all the zeros written to the right of the decimal point
count as significant figures. Thus, 2.0 mg has two significant figures, 40.062 mL has five
significant figures and 3.040 dm has four significant figures. If a number is less than 1,
then only the zeros that are at the end of the number and the zeros that are between
nonzero digits are significant. This means that 0.090 kg has two significant figures,
0.3005 L has four significant figures, 0.00420 min has three significant figures.
5. For numbers that do not contain decimal points, the trailing zeros (that is, zeros after
the last nonzero digit) may or may not be significant. By using scientific notation, we can
show the proper number of significant figures. For example, we can express the number
400 as 4 x 102 for one significant figure, 4.0 x 102 for two significant figures or 4.00 x
102 for three significant figures.

Handling Significant Figures in Calculations

1. In addition and subtraction, the answer cannot have more digits to the right of the
decimal point than either of the original numbers.

Examples:
a. 89.332 - three decimal places
+ 1.1 - one decimal place (smallest number of decimal place)
90.432 = 90.4 (rounded off to one decimal place)

b. 2.097 - three decimal places


- 0.12 - two decimal places (smallest number of decimal place)
1.977 = 1.98 (rounded off to two decimal places)

2. In multiplication and division, the number of significant figures in the final product or
quotient is determined by the original number that has the smallest number of significant
figures.
Examples:
a. 2.8 - two significant figures (smallest number of significant figures)
x 4.5039 - five significant figures
12.61092 = 13 (rounded off to two significant figures)

b. 6.85 - three significant figures (smallest number of significant figures)


÷ 112.04 - five significant figures
0.0611388789 = 0.0611 (rounded off to three significant figures)

NOTE: Exact numbers obtained from definitions or by counting numbers of objects can be
considered to have an infinite number of significant figures. If an object has a mass of 0.2786
g, then the mass of eight such objects is

0.2786 g x 8 = 2.229 g

We do not round off this product to one significant figure, because the number 8 is 8.000…, by
definition. Similarly, to take the average of the two measured lengths 6.64 cm and 6.68 cm, we
write

6.64 cm + 6.68 cm = 6.66 cm


2

because the number 2 is 2.0000… by definition.

Note: Review the rules in rounding off numbers.

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