Significant Figures Flashcards
(42 cards)
If you multiply 27.3 x 32, your answer will have how many significant figures?
2
Rule for determining how many significant figures to keep when multiplying one or more numbers?
- Count the significant figures in all the numbers you are multiplying.
- Find the one with the least number of sig figs.
- Keep this many sig figs in your final answer.
Rule for determining the number of sig figs to keep when you are dividing numbers.
- Count the significant figures in all the numbers you are dividing.
- Find the one with the least number of sig figs.
- Keep this many sig figs in your final answer.
Rule for determining how many sig figs to keep when adding numbers.
- Find the uncertain digit in each of the numbers. (It is usually the one on the right, but zeros can be tricky)
- Examine the place value of each of the uncertain digits you found in step one.
- Which place value is the largest?
- Round your final answer to this same place value.
Rule for determining the number of significant figures when subtracting numbers.
- Find the uncertain digit in each of the numbers. (It is usually the one on the right, but zeros can be tricky)
- Examine the place value of each of the uncertain digits you found in step one.
- Which place value is the largest?
- Round your final answer to this same place value.
How many significant figures would you keep in your answer to the following problem?
47.3 x 83,312 =
3
How many significant figures would you keep in your answer to the following problem?
147.3 x 83,000 =
2
(83,000 has only two sig figs)
How many significant figures would you keep in your answer to the following problem?
0.331 x 0.2473 =
3
(0.331 has the least number of sig figs in this multiplication problem)
How many significant figures would you keep in your answer to the following problem?
96.3 x 13,310 =
3
(96.3 has only 3 sig figs)
How many significant figures would you keep in your answer to the following problem?
17 ÷ 3,312 =
2
(17 has only 2 sig figs)
How many significant figures would you keep in your answer to the following problem?
12.34 ÷ 0.030 =
2
(0.030 has only 2 sig figs)
How many significant figures would you keep in your answer to the following problem?
22,300 ÷ 2.004 =
3
(22,300 has only 3 sig figs)
How many significant figures would you keep in your answer to the following problem?
0.445 ÷ 0.02 =
1
(0.02 has only one sig fig)
To what decimal place would you round the answer to?
16.85
+3312
3328.85
The ones place.
3329
This is an addition problem, and 3312 is accurate only to the ones place, so you have to round your answer to the ones place.
To what decimal place would you round the answer to?
6.03
+12.002
18.032
To the hundredths place.
18.03
This is an addition problem, and 6.03 is accurate only to the hundredths place, so you can’t go any farther than the hundredths place in your answer.
To what decimal place would you round the answer to?
6.03
+12.002
18.032
To the hundredths place.
18.03
This is an addition problem, and 6.03 is accurate only to the hundredths place, so you can’t go any farther than the hundredths place in your answer.
To what decimal place would you round the answer to?
63.313
-12.1
51.131
To the tenths place.
51.1
This is a subtraction problem, and 12.1 is accurate only to the tenths place, so you can’t go any farther than the tenths place in your answer.
To what decimal place would you round the answer to?
100.88
-6.2
94.68
To the tenths place.
94.7
This is a subtraction problem, and 6.2 is accurate only to the tenths place, so you can’t go any farther than the tenths place in your answer.
To what decimal place would you round the answer to?
0.0620
-0.0110
0.0510
To the ten thousandths place.
0.0510
This is a subtraction problem, and both numbers are accurate to the ten thousandths place, so you should write the answer out the the ten thousandths place.
You are multiplying the following numbers:
- 3
- 077
x 400.00
840.84
How many significant figures should show in your answer?
Two significant figures.
840
The number 0.077 has only two significant figures, so the answer should be limited to two significant figures.
You are multiplying the following numbers.
204.1
300
_ x 200.07_
12,250,286.1
How many significant figures should show in your answer?
One significant figure
10,000,000
The number 300 has only one significant figure, so your answer will be limited to one significant figure.
If the number has a
decimal point….
What is the rule for determining the
place value of the uncertain digit?
It is the last digit on the right.
- 0
- 25
- 6500
- 345 x 103
If the number has
NO decimal point.
What is the rule for determining the
place value of the uncertain digit?
The uncertain digit is the
LAST NON-ZERO DIGIT
ON THE RIGHT.
3500
67,000
13
(Except for when there is a line over a zero)
If a number has a
zero with a line over it…
Where is the uncertain digit?
(This is an important exception to some other rules you might see on these flash cards.
The zero with the line over it is the uncertain digit.
