Significant figures

 Every measurement results in a number that

includes reliable digits and uncertain digits.
 Reliable digits plus the first uncertain digit is called
significant digits.
 Eg- 1.62

Introduction Here, 1 and 6 are reliable and 2 is uncertain. Thus,

the measured value has 3 significant figures.
• Thus, the number of significant figures conveys
the information that except the last digit, all other
digits are known with certainty.
• The decimal place does not determine the no. of
significant figures.
 1. All non- zero digits are significant.
2. Zeros between two non zero digits are significant.
3. The zeros preceding to the first non-zero number
Rules for are not significant.
determining 4. Trailing zeros in a number without decimal place
are not significant.
no. of
5. Trailing zeros in a number with decimal place are
significant significant.
figures 6. Exact numbers,I.e., no.s without any uncertainty
have infinite no. of significant figures.
7. In case of exponential numbers only no.s are
counted and powers of 10 are irrelevant.
  All digits except zero(at end) are
considered to be significant.
RULE 1
All non- zero  Eg-
digits are i. 3.132 - 4 significant figures
significant. ii. 6.8132 - 5 significant figures
iii. 9.5 - 2 significant figures
  If zero(s) are between two non zero digits
then that zero(s) are considered to be
RULE 2 significant.
Zeros between
 Eg-
two non zero
digits are i. 9.01 – 3 significant figures
significant. ii. 8.005 – 4 significant figures
iii. 3.9002- 5 significant figures
RULE 3  The zeros before any non zero digit is/are
The zeros not significant.
preceding to  Eg-
the first non- i. 0.342 – 3 significant figures
zero number
are not ii. 0.00008 – 1 significant figure
significant. iii. 0.056- 2 significant figures
  If a no. does not have decimal place then
RULE 4
the zeros after non zero digits are not
Trailing zeros significant.
in a number
 Eg-
without
decimal place i. 4200 – 2 significant figures
are not ii. 30- 1 significant figure
significant. iii. 890500 – 4 significant figures
  Zeros after decimal in a digit are
RULE 5
considered to be significant.
Trailing zeros
in a number  Eg-
with decimal i. 243.0 - 4 significant figures
place are ii. 243.00 – 5 significant figures
significant. iii. 0.0900 - 3 significant figures
RULE 6  The number which are exact with no
Exact uncertainty have infinite significant
numbers,I.e., figures.
no.s without  Eg-
any uncertainty i. 7 = 7.00000… – infinite significant figs
have infinite no.
of significant ii. 900=900.00…. – infinite significant figs
figures. iii. 1 =1.00… - infinite significant figures
RULE 7
 The powers of 10 are not considered in
In case of
case of scientific notation.
exponential
numbers only  Eg-
no.s are i. 6.022 x 1023 – 4 significant figures
counted and ii. 4.70 x 10-4 – 3 significant figures
powers of 10 iii. 2 x 1010 – 1 significant figures
are irrelevant.