Significant Figures: Sig Figs

Significant Figures: Sig Figs

(Rounding Rules when Measuring)

A measurement can only be as accurate and precise as the instrument that produced it. A scientist must be able to express the accuracy of a number, not just its numerical value. We can determine the accuracy of a number by the number of significant figures it contains.

1. All digits 1-9 inclusive are significant. Example: 129 had 3 significant figures

2. Zeros between significant digits are always significant. Example: 5007 has 4 significant figures

3. Trailing zeros in a number are significant only if the number contains a decimal point. Example: 100.0 has 4 significant figures 100 has 1 significant figure

4. Zeros in the beginning of a number whose only function is to place the decimal point are not significant. Example: 0.0025 has 2 significant figures.

5. Zeros following a decimal significant figure are significant. Example: 0.000470 has 3 significant figures. 0.47000 has 5 significant figures

DIRECTIONS: Determine the number of significant figures in the following numbers.

1. 0.02 __ 1___ 2. .020 ___2___ 3. 501 ___3___ 4. 501.0 ___4___ 5. 5,000 ___1___

6. 5,000. ___4___ 7. 6051.00 ___6___ 8. 0.0005 ___1___ 9. 0.1020 ___4___ 10. 10,001 ___5___

DIRECTIONS: Determine the location of the last significant place value by placing a bar

over the digit. (Example: 1.700)

11. 8040 _____4______

12. .0300 _____0______

13. 699.5 _____5______ 14. 2.000 x 102 _____.0______

15. 0.90100 _____0______

16. 90,100 ______1_____ 17. 4.7 x 10-8 ______7_____

18. 10800,800. ______0_____ 19. 3.01 x 1021 _____1______

20. 0.000410 _____0______

CLASS COPY: ENJOY, BUT DON'T WRITE ON or TAKE IT

Calculations Using Significant Figures

When MULTIPLYING & DIVIDING, limit and round to the least number of significant figures in any of the factors.

Example 1: 23.0 cm x 432 cm x 19 cm = 188,784 cm The answer is expressed as 190,000 cm since 19 cm has only 2 sig figs.

When ADDING & SUBTRACTING, limit and round your answer to the least number of decimal places in any of the numbers that make up your answer.

Example 2: 123.25 mL + 46.0 mL + 86.257 mL = 255.507 mL The answer is expressed ass 255.5 mL since 46.0 ml has only one decimal place.

DIRECTIONS: Calculate the following expressing the answer in the correct number of significant figures.

21. 1.35 m x 2.467 m = 3.33m 22. 1035 m ? 42 m = 25m 23. 12.01 ml + 35.2 ml + 6 ml = 53ml 24. 55.46 g - 28.9 g = 26.6g 25. .021 cm x 3.2 cm x 100.1 cm = 6.7cm 26. .015 cm + 1.15 cm + 2.051 cm = 3.35cm 27. 150 L ? 4 L = 40L 28. 505 kg - 450.25 kg = 55 kg 29. 1.252 mm x 0.115 x 0.012 mm = .0017mL 30. 1.278 x 103 m ? 1.4267 x 102 = 8.958m

BONUS: How many significant figures does 0 have? No sig figures unless you measure something. In other words a number by itself does not have sig figs unless it is the result of a measurement.

CLASS COPY: ENJOY, BUT DON'T WRITE ON or TAKE IT

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