Changing the way you learn

1. Significant Figures

3 Sig Figs
1. 506
2. 50.6
3. 0.506
4. 0.00506
5. If Zero's are employed just to position the decimal point then they are considered NOT significant.
A Figure or Digit, gives an idea of both (1) Quantity, and (2) Accuracy
Decimals 0.001090
1. The Numbers to the LEFT of the 1 are NOT significant, but all numbers to the RIGHT of the 1 ARE significant.
Whole Numbers 030060
1. The 0 to the LEFT of the 3 is NOT significant, but both 0's on the RIGHT of the 3 would be Significant.
The Digits from 1 to 9 are always significant.
0 is a significant figure IF..
1. It is in between two Significant Figures..
  1. 207 = 3 sig figs
  2. 20087 = 5 sig figs
  3. 0254 = 3 sig figs
  4. 00033404 = 5 sig figs
2. It is at the end of a number and after the decimal point..
  1. 2.04 = 3 sig figs
  2. 0.0043 = 2 sig figs
  3. 0.002000 = 4 sig figs
  4. 0.000000 = 0 sig figs
Whole Number EXAMPLES
1. 1) 326
  1. 3 sig figs
2. 2) 320
  1. 2 sig figs
3. 3) 408
  1. 3 sig figs
4. 4) 2070
  1. 3 sig figs
5. 5) 30.0
  1. 3 sig figs
6. 6) 1.400
  1. 4 sig figs
7. 7) 30030
  1. 4 sig figs
8. 8) 602.1
  1. 4 sig figs
Decimal Point EXAMPLES
1. 1) 0.64
  1. 2 sig figs
2. 2) 0.0054
  1. 2 sig figs
3. 3) 0.0320
  1. 3 sig figs
4. 4) 0.4050
  1. 4 sig figs
5. 5) 0.900
  1. 3 sig figs
6. 6) 0.101000
  1. 6 sig figs
Rounding Significant Figures
1. 1/ 847454 4 s.f.
  1. = 847500
2. 2/ 654000 2 s.f.
  1. = 650000
3. 3/ 84764.654 4 s.f.
  1. = 84760
4. 4/ 95847500.746 3 s.f.
  1. = 95800000

1. Significant Figures

	Created by Jamie McLardy almost 11 years ago