SIGNIFICANT FIGURES

• Significant figures

  Non-zero numbers are significant figures
• Determining significant figures


  • Zeros between two non-zero numbers are significant
  • Trailing zeros are significant if there is a decimal point
  • Leading zeros are not significant
• Determining significant figures

  • 42.50 has 4 significant figures
  • 7080 has 4 significant figures
  • 1050.0 has 5 significant figures
  • 0.00703 has 3 significant figures
  • 0.08060 has 4 significant figures
  • 5030.0 has 5 significant figures
  • 750.064080 has 9 significant figures
• Rounding when multiplying or dividing

  1. Determine the least number of significant figures in the original numbers

  2. Round the final answer to the least number of significant figures
• Rounding when multiplying or dividing

  • 4.6 x 3.52 rounds to 16
  • 5.64 x 12.458 rounds to 70.3
  • 96.752 / 3.541 rounds to 27.32
• Rounding when adding or subtracting

  1. Round the final answer to the least number of digits to the right of the decimal point

  2. If the next digit is 5 or more, round up
• Rounding when adding or subtracting

  • 2.36 + 12.1 rounds to 14.5
  • 4.328 + 13 + 5.45 rounds to 23