Uncertainty of

Calculations

Basic Physics

SANTA ROSA SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY HIGH SCHOOL

 OBJECTIVE
Express computation results
in the proper number of
significant figures.

SANTA ROSA SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY HIGH SCHOOL

General Rule for Addition or Subtraction
• The number of decimal places in the answer
should be equal to the number of decimal places
in the value with the fewest decimal places.
• Example 1: 30.85 + 12.6528 = 43.5028 43.50
2 Decimal Places 4 Decimal Places
• Example 2: 30.85 – 12.6528 = 18.1972 18.20
2 DP 4 DP

SANTA ROSA SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY HIGH SCHOOL

General Rule for Multiplication or Division
• The results in using significant figures are as
precise as the least precise value, that is, the
value with the fewest significant figures.
• Example 1: 4.57 • 3.162 = 14.45034 14.5
3 SF 4 SF
• Example 2: 4.57 ÷ 3.162 = 1.445287793 1.45
3 SF 4 SF

SANTA ROSA SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY HIGH SCHOOL

More Examples
1. The perimeter of a triangle whose sides are 1.5
cm, 0.826 cm and 10.62 cm can be calculated
as:
P = s1 + s2 + s3
= 1.5 cm + 0.826 cm + 10.62 cm
1 DP 3 DP 2 DP
= 12.946 cm
= 12.9 cm

SANTA ROSA SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY HIGH SCHOOL

More Examples
2. Calculate the area of a bond paper with a
length of 27.9 cm and a width of 21.6 cm.
A = lw
= (27.9 cm)(21.6 cm)
3 SF 3 SF
= 602.64 cm2
= 603 cm2
 Type your answers in the chat box.
More Exercises
Perform the indicated operations. Apply
the rules for significant figures.
1. 4.35 cm – 0.615 cm + 33.7 cm 37.4 cm
2. (14.08 N)(0.52 m) 7.3 Nm
3. 50 N 3 000 N/m2
2.4 m 0.008 m 
SANTA ROSA SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY HIGH SCHOOL
“A person who never
made a mistake, never
tried anything new.”
-Albert Einstein-
SANTA ROSA SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY HIGH SCHOOL