Significant Figures

Question 1

What are Significant Figures?

Answer 1

Digits within a number that convey significance to the number’s accuracy

Question 2

What is rule #1 of Sig Figs?

Answer 2

All nonzero digits are significant

example: 1.344 has 4 sig figs
example #2: 2300 has 2 sig figs

Question 3

What is rule #2 of Sig Figs?

Answer 3

Zeroes between (or “sandwiched” between) nonzeroes are significant

example: 23004 has 5 sig figs
example #2: 1.000432 has 7 sig figs

Question 4

What is rule #3 of Sig Figs?

Answer 4

If a zero is to the right of a decimal and ends the number, it is significant

example: 1.030 has 4 sig figs
example #2: 1238.4800 has 8 sig figs

all trailing zeroes after a decimal count!

Question 5

What is rule #4 of Sig Figs?

Answer 5

For numbers less than 1, zeroes that DO NOT end the number (unless sandwiched!) are NOT significant

example: 0.007 has 1 sig fig
example #2: 0.07037 has 4 sig figs

Question 6

What is rule #5 of Sig Figs?

Answer 6

Zeroes to the left of a decimal (and not sandwiched) are NOT significant

example: 3200. has 2 sig figs
example #2: 43010. has 4 sig figs