IMPORTANT RULES -ATTACH THIS DOCUMENT TO YOUR NOTEBOOK FOR FUTURE REFERENCE

SIGNIFICANT FIGURES

All non-zero digits are significant. 825 has three sig. fig.

Zeroes located between non-zero digits are significant. 2007 has four sig. fig.

When a decimal or mixed decimal ends in zero, the zero is significant. 43.270 has five sig. fig.

When a whole number ends in zero (with no decimal point), the zero is not significant. 400 has one sig. fig.

When a whole number ends in zero (with a decimal point), the zero is significant 400. has three sig. fig.

Zeroes at the beginning of a number with a decimal point are place holders0.001 has one sig fig.

SCIENTIFIC NOTATION (only represents significant figures)

  1. Place the decimal point after the first significant digit.
  2. Count the number of places between the old and the new decimal point.
  3. If the number in the problem is less than one, express the number of places between the old and the new decimal point as a negative power of ten 0.45 = 4.5 x 10⁻¹
  4. If the number in the problem is greater than one, express the number of places between the old and the new decimal point as a positive power of ten. 625 = 6.25 x 10²

CALCULATING WITH SIGNIFICANT FIGURES

Adding and Subtracting: Add or Subtract using your calculator, and round the answer to the least accurate decimal place. 1.23 + 0.1 + 16.529 = 17.859 => 17.9

Multiplying and Dividing: Multiply or Divide using your calculator and round the answer to the fewest number of significant figures. (25.1) (3.9) (0.0016) = 0.156624 => 0.16

Exact Numbers including exact conversions (for example 1m=100cm) are never the basis for rounding.

Integrated Calculations will be discussed at a later date, but must result in the answer having the fewest significant figures and therefore the least accurate.

IMPORTANT RULES -ATTACH THIS DOCUMENT TO YOUR NOTEBOOK FOR FUTURE REFERENCE

SIGNIFICANT FIGURES

All non-zero digits are significant. 825 has three sig. fig.

Zeroes located between non-zero digits are significant. 2007 has four sig. fig.

When a decimal or mixed decimal ends in zero, the zero is significant. 43.270 has five sig. fig.

When a whole number ends in zero (with no decimal point), the zero is not significant. 400 has one sig. fig.

When a whole number ends in zero (with a decimal point), the zero is significant 400. has three sig. fig.

Zeroes at the beginning of a number with a decimal point are place holders0.001 has one sig fig.

SCIENTIFIC NOTATION (only represents significant figures)

  1. Place the decimal point after the first significant digit.
  2. Count the number of places between the old and the new decimal point.
  3. If the number in the problem is less than one, express the number of places between the old and the new decimal point as a negative power of ten 0.45 = 4.5 x 10⁻¹
  4. If the number in the problem is greater than one, express the number of places between the old and the new decimal point as a positive power of ten. 625 = 6.25 x 10²

CALCULATING WITH SIGNIFICANT FIGURES

Adding and Subtracting: Add or Subtract using your calculator, and round the answer to the least accurate decimal place. 1.23 + 0.1 + 16.529 = 17.859 => 17.9

Multiplying and Dividing: Multiply or Divide using your calculator and round the answer to the fewest number of significant figures. (25.1) (3.9) (0.0016) = 0.156624 => 0.16

Exact Numbers including exact conversions (for example 1m=100cm) are never the basis for rounding.

Integrated Calculations will be discussed at a later date, but must result in the answer having the fewest significant figures and therefore the least accurate.