Question

Write the rules for determining significant figures.

Answer 1

(1) All non-zero digits are significant.

Example: 1342 has 4 significant figures

(2) All zeros between two non-zero digits are significant.

Example: 2008 has four significant figures

(3) All zeros to the right of non-zero digit but to the left of the decimal point are significant.

Example: 3070.00 has 4 significant figures.

(4) The trailing zeros are not significant, ie in the number without a decimal point. All zeros are significant if they come from the measurement.

Example: 4000 has one significant figure.

(5) If a number is less than 1, the zero (s) on the right of the decimal point but to the left of the first non-zero digit are not significant.

Example: 0.0034 has 2 significant figures.

(6) All zeros to the right of the decimal point and to the right of non-zero digits are significant.

Example: 40.00 has four significant figures.

(7) The number of significant figures does not depend on the system of units used.

Example: 1.53cm, 0.0150cm, 0.0000153 Km all have three significant figures.

(8) The power of 10 is irrelevant to the determination of significant figures.

Example: 5.7 x 10² cm has two significant figures.