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Significant Figures and Rounding Off Numbers

The document discusses the rules and conventions for determining the significant figures in measurements and numbers. It explains that all non-zero digits are significant and zeros between two non-zero digits are also significant. Zeros to the right of the decimal point but before the first non-zero digit in a number less than 1 are not significant. The document also covers rounding conventions, such as banker's rounding and rounding to a given number of significant figures.

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Jessalyn Pacleb
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152 views5 pages

Significant Figures and Rounding Off Numbers

The document discusses the rules and conventions for determining the significant figures in measurements and numbers. It explains that all non-zero digits are significant and zeros between two non-zero digits are also significant. Zeros to the right of the decimal point but before the first non-zero digit in a number less than 1 are not significant. The document also covers rounding conventions, such as banker's rounding and rounding to a given number of significant figures.

Uploaded by

Jessalyn Pacleb
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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The number of significant digits

in a number/value
Significant
Figures Measurements can only be
accurate to the degree that the
measuring instrument is precise
All non-zero digits in a number are significant

• Example: 0.000000216, 0.0216, 21.6 and 216 = 3 significant


figures

All zeros between two non-zero digits are


RULES AND significant, no matter where the decimal point is,
CONVENTIONS if at all.
• Example: 0.00000206, 0.0206, 20.6, and 206: the zero lying
between the digits 2 and 6 are significant.

If the number is less than 1, the zeroes on the


right of the decimal point but to the left of the
first non-zero digit are not significant.
• Example: 0.0000206
The terminal or trailing zeros in a number without a decimal
point are significant depending on accuracy of measurement.

• Example: 2360 = 3 significant figures if the accuracy of measurement is


10m
• 2360= 4 significant figures if accuracy measurement is 1 m

Rules and The digit 0 conventionally put on the left of a decimal for a
number less than 1 is never significant. However, the zeros at
Conventions: the end of such number are significant in a measurement.
• Example: 0.120 = 3 significant figures

The terminal or trailing zeros in a number with a decimal


point are significant.

• 23.60 4 significant numbers


• Banker’s rounding- whenever 0.5 is
encountered as a fractional part of a
number, the number is rounded to the
nearest even integer.
Rounding off
• Example:
Numbers • 2.5 is rounded to 2
• 3.5 is rounded to 4
• 4.5 is rounded to 4
• 5.5 is rounded to 6
• To round off 0.1836028 m to the nearest
centimeter, means two significant figures.
Rounding to • Answer: 0.18
Given • 3456m becomes 3500m rounded off to the
nearest hundred meter; 2 SF
Significant
• 0.123 m becomes 0.12 rounded off to the
Figures nearest centimetre; 2 SF

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