SPH 4U – Significant Figures Name:

Significant Figures

How Scientists Determine and State Significant Figures

1. Defined and counted values _________________ significant (they are exact - like in math)
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2. All non-zero digits in a measurement ___________ significant
 247.12 m has _______ significant digits
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3. Leading zeros (zeros before other digits) and trailing zeros (zeros after other digits) _________
significant
 0.00000453 g has ________ significant figure(s)
 50000 N has _______ significant figure(s)
4. Zeros placed in between other digits __________ significant
 10005 kg has _________ significant figure(s)
5. Zeros placed after a non-zero digit AND after a decimal place _________ significant
 6.230 s has _______ significant figure(s)
6. When taking a measurement, include one extra estimated digit
 the reading at the arrow is clearly ______________ – the last digit will be estimated – say
_____________ – this measurement then has ______ significant figures

Rounding Numbers
 7. If the digit to be dropped is a 4 or less, the preceding digit is not changed. If the digit to be dropped
is 5 or higher, the preceding digit is rounded up.
 8.564 s rounded to 3 s.f. is ___________
 8.566 s rounded to 3 s.f. is ___________
 5.5657 m rounded to 3 s.f. is _____________

Final Answers to a Problem or a Calculation in a Lab (a.k.a. why does this matter?)
8. Final answers are stated with the least number of significant figures in the problem
 35.56 m x 3.4 m = ____________________________

9. When solving a multi-step problem, add one extra digit to the number of s.f. in the first part of the
problem for use in the second part of the problem.
Part A: Determine the area of a box that has a width of 5.0 m and length of 6.5 m.

Part B: Determine the volume of two of the same boxes if they both have a height is 2.0 m.

Answer: