Significant figures

Evaluating Zero
A zero is significant when it is:

• Between nonzero digits:

• Example:
• 205 – 3 significant figures
• 2.05- 3 significant figures
• 61.09- 4 significant figures
2. At the end of a number that includes a decimal
point:
Example:
• 0.500- 3 significant figures
• 25.160- 5 significant figures
• 3.00- 3 significant figures
• 20. -2 significant figures
 Evaluating Zero
A zero is not significant when it is:

1. Before the first nonzero digit. These zeros are

used to locate decimal point:
Example:
• 0.0025- 2 significant figures
• 0.0108- 3 significant figures
2. At the end of a number without a decimal
point:
Example:
• 1000- one significant figure
• 590- significant figures
 Take note:
One way of indicating that these zeros are
significant is to write the number using a decimal
point and a power of 10.
Thus:
• if the value 1000 has been determined to four
significant figures: It is written as 1.000 X 103
• If 590 has only two significant figures: it is
written as 5.9 x 10 2
Significant figures in Calculations
 Multiplication/Division
• In calculating involving multiplication or
division:
• The answer must contain the same number of
significant figures as in the measurements that
has the least number of significant figures:
 Example no.1
(190.6) (2.3)= 438.38
The value 438.38 was obtained with a calculator.
The answer should have two significant figures
because 2.3, the number with the fewest
significant figures, has only two significant
figures.

438.38

The correct answer is 440 or 4.4 x 102(scientific

notation)
 Example no.2
(13.59) (6.3) = 7.13475
12

The value 7.13475 was obtained with a calculator.

The answer should contain two significant figures
because 6.3 and 12 each have only two
significant figures .

7.13475

The correct answer is 7.1

 Addition or subtraction
• The results of an addition or a subtraction
must be expressed to the same precision as
the least precise measurement.
• This means the result must be rounded to the
same number of decimal places as the value
with the fewest decimal places.
 Example no. 1
• ADD 125.17, 129. and 52.2
125. 17
129.
52. 2
306.37

The number with the least precision is 129. Therefore

the answer is rounded off to the nearest unit: 306
 Example no. 2
• Substract 14.1 from 132.56

132.56
- 14.1
118.46
14.1 is the number with least precision.
Therefore the answer is rounded –off to the
nearest tenth: 118.5
 Example no 3
ADD 5672 and 0.00063

5672
+ 0.00063
5672.00063

The number with least precision is 5672. so the answer is

rounded off to the nearest unit: 5672

Note: when a very small number is added to a large number

the result is simply the original number.
 Example no.4
1.039-1.020 = 0.018286814
1.039
The value 0.018286814 was obtained with a
calculator when the subtraction in the numerator is
done
1.039-1.020=0.019
The number of significant figures changes from four to
two. Therefore the answer should contain two
significant figures after the division is carried out:

0.018286814

The correct answer is 0.018 or 1.8 X 10 -2