Chapter 1 : Standard Form

1.1Significant Figure
What are significant figure? Significant figures are used to denote an exact value of numbers to a
certain specific degree of accuracy. For example: 289 !"" #correct to $ significant figure%
Rules in rounding off a positive number to a given number of significant figures
#i% &n a positive number' the non()ero digits are significant figures
For example
$!.* +! significant figures,
2-*. +/ significant figures,
#ii%&f there is )ero in bet0een the non()ero digits' it is considered as significant figures too
For example
$"* +! significant figures,
2"".8 +/ significant figures,
#iii% &f a )ero comes after a none )ero digit in a decimal' it is considered as significant figures also since
it indicates the degree of accuracy 0here the measurement is ta1en.
For example
".!" +2 significant figures,
2""." +/ significant figures,
#iv%&f )eros are before a non()ero digit in a decimal 0hich is less than $' it is not considered as
significant figures2
For example
".""/* +2 significant figures,
"."".""* +/ significant figures,
#v% For the final case' if there are )eros after a non()ero digit for a 0hole number' it may or may not be
significant figures as it depends on the degree of accuracy re3uired
For example
."" +$ significant figure if the degree of accuracy needed is to nearest hundred,
."" +2 significant figures if the degree of accuracy needed is to nearest ten,
."" +! significant figures if the degree of accuracy is to nearest 0hole numbe
Lets see some example questions no!
For each number' round it off to the number of significant figures indicated in brac1et.
"#$" +$ s.f,
4ips: * is the first significant figure' so as re3uired' 0e need to round it off to $ significant figure. 4he
number 5.6 is larger than *' so add $ to the digit * and dropped the digit .' -' and *
7ns0er: .""" #correct to $ significant figures%.
%."&$' +! s'f,
4ips: - is the ! significant figure and not 2#rules no.iv%. 4he digit ! is smaller than *' so dropped
7ns0er: ".*2- #correct to ! significant figures%.

'%'.&$ +2 s.f,
4ips: " is the 2
nd
significant figure. Since the number after " 0hich is !#smaller than *%' 0e shall
dropped it.
7ns0er: !""#correct to 2 significant figures% +&n this case' this number is considered as having 2
significant figures as re3uired by the 3uestion,. 8o0 if the 3uestion 0ant $significant figure? 4he
ans0er 0ills still the same' !"". #4his is 0hat rules no.vi means%.9et it?

&%."#( +/ s.f,
4ips: Which number if the /
th
significant figure? &t6s .. 7nd 8 is larger than *' so add one to the number
in front of it 0hich is . :$' then dropped the 8
7ns0er: 2".*- #correct to / significant figures%.

%.%%"#1' +2 s.f,
4ips: . is the 2
nd
significant figure and the number behind the . 0hich is $ is less than *.So' dropped the
$ and the . remains.
7ns0er: ".""*. #correct to 2 significant figures%

1)#&.%& +! s.f,
4ips: . is the !
rd
significant figure. 2' 0hich are the number after . is less than *' so dropped 2 and .
remained. 4he number after the decimal point should be dropped too as it is also counted as significant
figures2
7ns0er : $/." # correct to ! significant figure%
Caution !!!
4he ans0er should not be $/.2 &magine' in your poc1et' you have ;<$$/"' and 0hen people as1ed you
ho0 much you have in your poc1et' you 0ould say around ;< $""" and =>4 around ;<$""2
*xercise 1:
State the number of significant figures #s.f% in each of the follo0ing numbers?
* 2-9 @@@@@ Significant figurers
*2 ""9 @@@@@ Significant figurers
".""$ 2* @@@@@ Significant figurers
"."$" /$ @@@@@ Significant figurers
*xercise &
$. ;ound off the number to the significant figures stated:
*xercise '
;ound off each of the follo0ing numbers correct to $ significant figure' 2 significant figures and !
significant figure
8- !$"
9 8-*
$ ""9
"."/* .2
".""2 !$
+ombor 1 significant figure & significant figure ' significant figure
($ '1%
, ($"
1 %%,
%.%)" #&
%.%%& '1
#a% *..-92 #! s.f% @@@@@@@@@@@@@@
#b% ".""928$ #! s.f% @@@@@@@@@@@@@@
#c% "."/"9 #2 s.f% @@@@@@@@@@@@@@
#d% "."""!"-/* #! s.f% @@@@@@@@@@@@@@
#e% !""2/" #/ s.f% @@@@@@@@@@@@@@
#f% !""."- #2 s.f% @@@@@@@@@@@@@@
-erforming operations of addition. subtraction. multiplication and division for numbers and state
the anser in the given specific significant figures
*xample 1
Solve *../ A ..-8 : 2!./* and correct the ans0er to 2 significant figures.
4ips: Balculate this by using a calculator and then round off the ans0er to 2 significant figures
7ns0er: -!."- #from calculator%
-! #correct to 2 significant figures%
*xample &
Balculate the value of !/.! : ..-8 C "."2/ and give your ans0er correct to ! significant figures.
4ips: ;emember2 Do for the division part first and then Eust proceed 0ith the addition part2 7nd
lastly correct the ans0er to ! significant figures
7ns0er: !/.! : #..-8 C "."2/%
!/.! : 282.*
!$..8
!$- #correct to ! significant figures%
*xample '
Fvaluate the value of !."8 C $"" x /.*. Borrect your ans0er to 2 significant figures
4ips: Fvaluate from left to right and then round off the ans0er to 2 significant figures
7ns0er: !."8 C$"" x /.*
"."!"8 x /.*
".$!8. #From calculator%
".$/ #correct to 2 significant figures%
*xercise )
Fvaluate the value of #.2./2 : ".-2% G ".2.Borrect your ans0er to 2 significant figures.
*xercise "
Find the value of
/ . .
8- . $ $9$ . *
and giving the ans0er correct to ! significant figures.
*xercise #
8anita bought ! apples 0eighing 2"g' /".$g and -".$*g. Find the total 0eight of ! apples and correct
your ans0er to 2 significant figures
*xercise $
Find the value of ".2 G ".28-/ C ".$2. Borrect your ans0er to 2 significant figures.
*xercise (
Find the value of
*"
$/ . ! 2* . .
. Borrect your ans0er to 2 significant figures.
*xercise ,
4he picture sho0s a rectangle. Find the surface area and soma to correct your ans0ers to t0o
significant figures.
*xercise 1%
7hmad re3uire a long 0ooden shaft * are respectively *:$* m' /..2 m' -.9! m' 9.8 m !m and 9:2/.
Balculate the total length of 0ood needed and then round off the ans0er correct to ! significant figures.
Standard Form
4.0 m
6.8 m
Standard form is used to express a very large or very small numbers in the form of 7 x $"
n
0here 7 is
greater of e3ual to $ but less than $". For instance' $ H 7 H $" and n is an integer.
*xample 1
8o0 can you express /*""""""" in standard form?
Iery easy2 Just loo1 at the number. >bserve that the number is a product of /.* 0ith $"
8
So the standard form of /*""""""" is /.* x $"
8
*xample &
Fxpress 2!/"""" in standard form
/ips: 8o0 to get to 1no0 0hether this should be a positive index or a negative index? Well' this
number is large and is a multiple of a number. So' from here' 0e 1no0 that this is a positive
index of $". Kut the po0er of 0hat? Just move the decimal behind the 2!/"""". to front until it
fulfill the condition of $ H 7 H $" ' 0hich is 2.!/#also count ho0 many times you move the
decimal point from bac1 to front to get 2.!/% &n this case 0e have move the decimal point .
times. So 2!/"""" is the multiple of 2.!/ x $"
.
From here' you moved . places to obtain 2.!/. 8ence'
0nser: 2.!/ x $"
.
#LMou can chec1 this by typing 2.!/ x $"
.
into your calculator and you 0ill
get 2!/""""' same as for the 3uestion%
*xample '
Fxpress ".""""!* in standard form.
4ips: For this case' this should have a negative index since the number is very small #0hich is
divided by $"
n
%'n is a positive integer. <ove the decimal point to the bac1 to get !.*#count also
the number of places you moved the decimal point%.
8o0 many places the decimal point moved to the bac1? &ts *2 So' if the decimal point is moved
to the bac1' this should be a negative index' 0hich is $"
(*
0nser: !.* x $"
(*
#Mou can chec1 the ans0er by typing ".""""!* in your calculator and you
0ill get !.* x $"
(*
0hich is the same as your final ans0er for this 3uestion2%
*xercise 11
1o to convert 0 x 1%
n
to a single
number 2Follo these to rules !
&f the index n of the po0er $" is positive' moves the decimal point in 7
n
places to the right.
&f the index n of the po0er $" is negative' moves the decimal point in 7
n
places to the left.
*xample )
Bonvert /.!- x $"
.
to a single number.
4ips: 4he index n' 0hich is .' is a positive number. So' move the decimal point in /.!- . places to
the right.
7ns0er: /.!- x $"
.

/!-"""
*xample "
#a%. !/*""" @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
#b%. ".""/-8 @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
#c%. $92/.*. @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
#d%. ".""""!. @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
#e% 68000 @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
#f% 0.00004
72
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
#g% 2400000
0
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
#h% 0.0008 @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
#i% 9000 @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
#E% 0.00000
59
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
Bonvert ..-8 x $"
(/
to a single number.
4ips : Since the index n' 0hich is (/' is a negative number' so move the decimal point in ..-8 /
places to the left.
7ns0er: ..-8 x $"
(/

".""".-8
*xample #
Fvaluate the value of !/"" C ".""$2 correct it to 2 significant figures and express it in standard
form.
/ips: Do it one by one' change the ans0er according to the significant figures needed and then
express it in standard form.
0nser: Ky pressing calculator' you 0ill get !/"" C ".""$2 28!!!!!.!!!. =o0' correct
28!!!!!.!!! to 2 significant figures using the 1no0ledge you have learnt before$'you 0ill get the
ans0er as 28""""". 28""""" is a multiple of $"
.
for 2.8 and hence the
final anser is 2.8 x $"
.
*xercise 1&
Specify a number in the follo0ing standard form as a single number.
#a% 9.2 x $"
!
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
#b% *.- x $"
(*
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
#c%$.! G $"
-
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
#d% /.2 G $"
( !
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
#e% 4.3 X 10
1
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
#f% 4.52 X 10
3
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
#g% 3.2 X 10
-5
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
#h% 6.8 X 10
-3
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
*xercise 1'
Find the value of (2.3 X 10
4
) X (5.5 X 10
-2
) b e!"#e$$in% ou# an$&e# in 'tanda#d fo#m.
*xercise 1)
7 machine can install *. chips in minutes. 9et the number of chips that are installed in $" minutes and
the right to Standard form.
*xercise 1"
Balculate the value of each of the follo0ing and express the ans0er in #a% standard form? #b% single
number
#i% $.2 G $"
(*
( -.2 G $"
(8
#ii% -.8 G $"
.
: /.* G $"
-
7ns: #i%#a%NNNNNNNNNNN.. 7ns: #ii%#a%NNNNNNNNNNN..
#b%NNNNNNNNNNN.. #b%NNNNNNNNNNN..
#iii% /.2 G $"
!
G . G $"
(-
#iii%
/"""
""./ . "
7ns: #i%#a%NNNNNNNNNNN.. 7ns: #ii%#a%NNNNNNNNNNN..
#b%NNNNNNNNNNN.. #b%NNNNNNNNNNN..