3.0 Significant Digits & Scientific Notation

Question 1

What do significant digits represent?

Answer 1

• the accuracy of the measuring device
• They are used in calculations

Question 2

What is significant?

Answer 2

1. All non-zero digits.
2. Zeros between non zero digits.
3. Zeros before nonzero digits are NOT significant. These are called leading zeros.
4. Zeros at the end after this one point our significant.
5. Zeros at the end before a decimal point are not significant.

Question 3

What does a bar represent?

Answer 3

It is used to indicate that zeros are significant

Question 4

What is important to remember about sig digs?

Answer 4

Counted numbers and assigned numbers have infinite sig digs

Question 5

What is the certainty rule?

Answer 5

When multiplying or dividing, the answer has the same number of sig digs as the measurement with the least sig digs

Question 6

What is the precision rule?

Answer 6

When adding or subtracting the answer must have the same “ precision” (place value) as the measurement with the least precision

Question 7

What is the complex equation rule?

Answer 7

For equations with a mix of operations, make the answer have the same number of sig digs as the number with the least sig digs

Question 8

What is scientific notation?

Answer 8

• A short form for very bigger small numbers
• for decimal numbers, the exponent is negative