QUICK EXERCISE!!

Convert the following numbers to

scientific notation.
a. 13,000,000 1.3 x 107
b. 4020.0 4.02 x 103
c. 0.00040 4.0 x 10 -4

d. 0.0004002 4.002 x 10 -4
SCIENTIFIC NOTATION TO SIMPLE VALUES

When converting scientific notation into simple

values, the rules are as follows:

1. Positive Exponent:
If the exponent is positive, move the
decimal point to the right by the value of
the exponent. Add zeros if necessary.
2. Negative Exponent:
If the exponent is negative, move the
decimal point to the left by the value of
the exponent. Add zeros if needed.
 LET’S TRY THIS!!
Convert the following scientific notations
into simple values.
a. 300 x 104 m 3,000,000 m
b. 86 x 105 J 8,600,000 J
c. 990,000,000,000 x 10-4 miles 99,000,000 miles
d. 0.0004 x 104 m 4 m
e. 3.75 x 10-4 miles 0.000375 miles
• RULES IN SIGNIFICANT FIGURES
• RULES IN ROUNDING OFF A NUMBER
• ACCURACY AND PRECISION
Understand the rules for
identifying the significant figures
(digits) in a measurement.
Determine the appropriate
number of significant figures in
both addition and subtraction, as
well as multiplication and
division calculations.
Differentiate accuracy from
precision.
 This instrument
measures heat: how
warm or cool
something is.
This instrument is
used to measure
mass or weight
precisely.
This instrument is
used to measure
liquid volumes
accurately.
This instrument is
used to measure
time intervals
accurately.
The significant figures in a
measurement include all of the
digits that are known, plus a last
digit that is estimated.

 Measurements must always be

reported to the correct number of
significant figures because
calculated answers cannot be
more precise than measured
data.
 The width of the door
can be expressed
as:
0.8 m for meter
stick “a” because
0 is known and .8
is estimated
0.77 m for meter
a. stick “b” because
0.7 is known and
0.07 is estimated
b.
0.772 m for meter
stick “c” because
c.
0.77 is known and
.002 is estimated
Determining Significant Figures in
Measurements
To determine whether a digit in a measured value is significant,
you need to apply the following rules.

1. Every nonzero digit is significant.

Each of these measurements has

three significant figures:

24.7 meters
0.743 meter
714 meters
Determining Significant Figures in
Measurements
To determine whether a digit in a measured value is significant,
you need to apply the following rules.

2. Zeros appearing between non-zero

digits are significant. These are
called “sandwich zeros”.

Each of these measurements has four

significant figures: Why?

7003 meters
40.79 meters
1.503 meters
Determining Significant Figures in
Measurements
To determine whether a digit in a measured value is significant,
you need to apply the following rules.
3. Trailing zeros follow a non-zero digit and
are significant only if there is a decimal
point.
Examples of this rule with the zeros this
rule affects in boldface:

0.00500
0.03040
2.30 x 10-5
4.500 x 1012
100.000
Determining Significant Figures in
Measurements

Each of these measurements has four

significant figures: WHY? (find the
captured & trailing zeros)

43.00 meters
1.010 meters
9.000 meters
Determining Significant Figures in
Measurements

Which digits are significant

figures?
1. All non zero digits (1 to 9)
2. Sandwich zeros – which are
between non-zero digits
 Example 1,001
3. Trailing zeros – with a decimal
point
 Example 1,001.000
Which ZERO digits are
NOT significant figures?
 Leading zeros before real
numbers
 Example 0.000231
 Trailing zeros after real
numbers if no decimal is
written.
 Example 1,000,000
 Each of these measurements has only two
significant figures:
QUICK EXERCISE!!

0.0071 meter = 7.1 x 10-3 meter

0.42 meter = 4.2 x 10-1 meter
0.000 099 meter = 9.9 x 10-5 meter

These are All digits are

leading zeros significant using
scientific notation
The zeros in these measurements are not
significant: WHY?
QUICK EXERCISE!!

300 meters (one

? significant figure)
7000 meters (one
? significant figure)
27,210 meters (four
? significant figures)

No captured zeros nor trailing zeros, no

decimal points!
Determining Significant Figures in Measurements

4. Unlimited number of significant

figures
There are two situations in which
numbers have an unlimited number of
significant figures.
Counting and Equivalents

 The first involves counting.

23 people in your classroom
This measurement is a counted value, so it
has an unlimited number of significant
figures.
Determining Significant Figures in Measurements
 The second situation involves
equivalents like those found within a
system of measurement.

Each of these numbers has an

unlimited number of significant
figures.

60 min = 1 hr
100 cm = 1 m

Counting and equivalents do not

limit the significant figures in
your calculations!
Determining Significant Figures in Measurements
Rules for significant figures
Rule 1: Non-zero digits are always
significant.
Rule 2: “Sandwich zeros” – any zeros
between two significant digits are
significant.
Rule 3: Trailing zeros are significant if
there is a decimal point
Rule 4 – Unlimited significant figures
 Counted values
 Equivalents
 Suppose that the winner of a 100-meter
dash finishes the race in 9.98 seconds. QUICK EXERCISE!!
The runner in second place has a time
of 10.05 seconds. How many
significant figures are there in 9.98
seconds and 10.05 seconds? Give the
rules 1-4.
There are three significant figures in 9.98
Rule 1- every nonzero digit is significant

There are four significant figures in 10.05

Rule 1- every nonzero digit is significant
Rule 2 – sandwich zeros between nonzero
digits are significant
Significant Figures in Calculations

Rounding

 To round a number, first decide how

many significant figures the answer
should have.

 Then round to that many digits,

counting from the left.

 “4 & below, let it go”

 “5 & above, give it a shove”
 Significant Figures in Calculations

Rounding Measurements
Round off each measurement to the
number of significant figures shown in
parentheses.
a. 314.721 meters (four) 314.7

b. 0.001 775 meter (two) 0.001 8

c. 8792 meters (two) 8800

Significant Figures in Calculations

The arrow points to the digit immediately

following the last significant digit. Write your
answer using scientific notation.

a. 314.721 meters – round to 4 significant figure

↑
2 is less than 5, so you do not round up.

314.7 meters = 3.147 x 102 meters

 Significant Figures in Calculations

The arrow points to the digit immediately following

the second significant digit. Write your answer
using scientific notation.

b. 0.001 775 meters - round to 2 significant figures

↑
7 is greater than 5, so round up.

0.0018 meter = 1.8 x 10-3 meter

Significant Figures in Calculations

The arrow points to the digit immediately

following the second significant digit. Write
your answer using scientific notation.

c. 8792 meters - round to 2 significant figures

↑
9 is greater than 5, so round up.

8800 meters = 8.8 x 103 meters

Significant Figures in Calculations

Addition and Subtraction

 The answer to an addition or

subtraction calculation should
be rounded to the same number
of decimal places (not digits) as
the measurement with the least
number of decimal places.
 Significant Figures in Calculations

Give the answer to the correct number

of significant figures.
12.52 meters + 349.0 meters + 8.24 meters
Significant Figures in Calculations

Apply the concepts to this problem.

349.0 meters has the 12.52 meters

fewest decimal places, 349.0 meters
just one. The answer + 8.24 meters
must be rounded to 369.76 meters
one decimal place
369.8 meters
Significant Figures in Calculations

Multiplication and Division

 In calculations involving
multiplication and division,
round the answer to the same
number of significant figures
as the measurement with the
least number of significant
figures.
Significant Figures in Calculations

Significant Figures in
Multiplication and Division
Give the answers to the correct
number of significant figures.
a. 7.55 meters x 0.34 meter

b. 2.10 meters x 0.70 meter

c. 2.4526 meters2 ÷ 8.4 meters
Significant Figures in Calculations

Apply the concepts to this problem.

a. 7.55 meters x 0.34 meter

The second measurement (0.34 meter) has

the least number of significant figures (two).
So, the answer must be rounded to two
significant figures.

a. 7.55 meters x 0.34 meter = 2.567 meters2

= 2.6 meters2
Significant Figures in Calculations

The second measurement (0.70 meter) has

the least number of significant figures (two).
So, the answer must be rounded to two
significant figures.

b. 2.10 meters x 0.70 meter = 1.47 meters2

= 1.5 meters2
 Significant Figures in Calculations

Apply the concepts to this problem.

c. 2.4526 meters2 ÷ 8.4 meters

The second measurement (8.4 meters2) has the

least number of significant figures (two). So, the
answer must be rounded to two significant
figures.

c. 2.4526 meters2 ÷ 8.4 meters = 0.291 076 meter

= 0.29 meter
In what case are zeros significant in a
measured value?
In what case are zeros significant in a
measured value?

Trailing zeros with a decimal point

Sandwich zero’s – between real numbers

Significant Figures Rule when + or - numbers?

 Round to fewest decimal places

Significant Figures Rule when x or ÷ numbers?

 Round to fewest significant figures
What is the difference between
accuracy and precision?
• Compares a
measurement to the
true value.
• It means obtaining a
measurement result
that is close to the
theoretical or true
value.
 Who is more accurate when measuring a
book that has a true length of 17.0 cm?
Susan:
17.0 cm, 16.0 cm, 18.0 cm, 15.0 cm

Amy:
15.5 cm, 15.0 cm, 15.2 cm, 15.3 cm
 • For example, when a liquid is
placed in a container, it forms a
curve called the meniscus.
• Precision describes how closely
measurements are to each other • The water level should be read
and how carefully measurements form the bottom of the meniscus
each time the reading is taken to
were made. make readings precise.

• It denotes getting similar result

when measurement of a certain
object is repeated.
Who is more precise when measuring the same
17.0 cm book?

Susan:
17.0 cm, 16.0 cm, 18.0 cm, 15.0 cm

Amy:
15.5 cm, 15.0 cm, 15.2 cm, 15.3 cm
High Accuracy High Precision
High Precision Low Accuracy
 Can you hit the bull's-eye?

Three
targets with
three arrows
each to
shoot.
Both Precise Neither
How do they accurate but not accurate
compare? and accurate nor
precise precise

Can you define accuracy vs. precision?

 EXERCISE:

High
Low Accuracy Low Accuracy Accuracy
Low Precision High Precision High
Precision