SIGNIFICANT FIGURES (SIGFIGS)

RULES FOR DETERMINING THE NUMBER OF SIGNIFICANT FIGURES

1. Non-zero digits are significant.

e.g. 316 = 3 sig figs

2. Zeros in between other digits are significant.

e.g. 6.003 = 4 sig figs

3. Leading zeros are not significant.

e.g. 0.00035 = 2 sig figs

4. Trailing zeros are not significant, unless it is decimal zeros.

e.g. 35,000 = 2 sig figs

0.035000 = 5 sig figs

RULES FOR CALCULATING WITH SIGNIFICANT FIGURES

1. When adding or subtracting, use the fewest number of decimal places.

e.g. 10.1 1 decimal place

+ 7.43 2 decimal places
17.5 1 decimal place

2. When multiplying or dividing, use the fewest number of significant figures.

e.g. 4.93 3 sig figs

× 6.027 4 sig figs
29.7 3 sig figs

RULES FOR ROUNDING OFF

- When rounding off to a certain number of significant figures, take into account the digit that follows the last significant
figure. If it is 5 or higher, round up, and if it is 4 or lower, round down.

e.g. Rounding to 3 sig figs

9.365 → 9.37
9.364 → 9.36