Measurements

and
Significant Figures
Many Observation are
Measurements
What is a Measurement?
•  Quantitative observation.
•  Comparison to an agreed upon standard.
•  Every measurement has a number and a
unit.
Measurements: Precision can be
Communicated by Significant Figures

Accurate, but Accurate and Precise, but not

not very precise precise very accurate
Significant Figures
Writing Numbers to Reflect Precision
Any non-zero number is significant. What about zeros?
Zeros before non-zero numbers are not
0.0165 significant. (3 sf)

Zeros after non-zero numbers to the right

85.950 of the decimal point are significant. (5 sf)

Zeros between non-zero numbers are

12.061 significant. (5 sf)
Significant Figures

10 Cannot tell!! Use scientific notation.

1 sf or 2 sf???
10 = 1.0 x 101 OR 1 x 101
2 sig figs 1 sig fig

“10.” – use decimal point to show sf.

2 sf (I think it’s best to use scientific notation!)
Significant Figures in Calculations
Addition/Subtraction: The number of decimal
places is equal to the least number of
decimal places going in.
Significant Figures in Calculations
Multiplication/Division: The number of sig figs is
equal to the least number of sig figs going in.