ROUNDING OFF NUMBERS

Rounding numbers makes them simpler and easier to use. Although they're slightly less
accurate, their values are still relatively close to what they originally were. ... Finally, it's
often just easier to work with rounded numbers, because exact numbers aren't only
required.
A rounded number has about the same value as the number you start with, but it is less
exact.
GENERAL RULES TO ROUNDING OFF TO A CERTAIN NUMBER OF DECIMAL PLACES
EXERCISE
Round the number 32.714938604 to the given specification
i) 1 dp
ii) 3 dp
iii) 6 dp
iv) Nearest whole number

ROUNDING OFF TO A CERTAIN NUMBER OF SIGNIFICANT FIGURES

It was stated in a newspaper that the attendance at the MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground)
for a football match was 64,000. But a friend who was attending the same match said the
crowd was 64,492. The information from both sources are correct, but it was given to a
different degree of accuracy.

64,492 might have been the exact number. When we round off 64,492 to two significant
figures, it is 64,000.

The first non-zero digit, reading from left to right in a number, is the first significant figure.
e.g. In 64,492 6 is the first significant figure.(sig.fig.) When we round off 64,492 to
two sig. figs, that means in the answer we should have two non zero figures.The third
figure(which is 4) is less than 5, so we drop them to zeros.

Let's round off 64,492 to:

(a) 1 significant figure which is 60,000
(b) 2 significant figures which is 64,000
(c) 3 significant figures which is 64,500
(d) 4 significant figures which is 64,490
(e) 5 significant figures which is 64,492

The accuracy of the answer will depend on the number of significant figures. The
answer will be more accurate, if it is given to a higher number of significant figures.
Exercise
Problem 1
Give each answer correct to the number of sig. figs. indicated in each of the brackets.
i) 3.185×0.49 (2sig.figs.)
ii) 0.485 ÷ 0.0638 (3sig.figs.)

Problem 2
State the number of sig. figs. in each of these numbers.

i) 35
ii) 0.072
iii) 3.040
iv) 3000

Try out the exercise on the given link

http://www.staff.vu.edu.au/mcaonline/units/numbers/numsig.html#Solution%202