Significant Figures: Dr. Ma. Victoria Delis-Naboya

SIGNIFICANT
FIGURES
Dr. Ma. Victoria Delis-Naboya

Significant Figures
All measurements contain some
uncertainty
- We make errors; Tools have limits
Uncertainty is measured using:

Accuracy - How close to the true value
Precision - How close to each other
The amount of uncertainty associated with a
measurement is indicated by the number of
digits or figures used to represent the
information.
Significant figures:
all digits in a number representing
data or results that are known
with certainty plus one uncertain
digit
You can’t report numbers better than the instrument
used to measure them.
67.2 units = Three significant figures

certain uncertain
digits digit
The number of significant digits is independent of the

decimal point.
These numbers all have three significant figures!

255 0.255
25.5 0.0255
2.55
Rules
1. Nonzero digits are always significant.
2. Leading zeros are never significant.
Leading zero 0.421 - three significant figures
3. Captive zeros are always significant.

4021 - four significant figures
Captive zero
4. Trailing zeros are always significant.

114.20 - five significant figures
trailing zero
Zeros are what will
give you a
headache!!
Significant Number in Calculation
Addition and Subtraction
Final answer should contain the same
number of decimal places as the number
with the fewest decimal places.
Consider:
37.68 liters
6.71862 liters
108.428 liters
152.82662 liters
Correct answer 152.83 liters
Multiplication and Division
Final answer should have same number of
significant figures as there are in the
number with the fewest significant figures.
4.2 x 10-3 (15.94) =

2.255 x 104
Which number has the fewest significant

figures?
Therefore, the answer is 3.0 × 10-6
Multiplication and Division
Final answer should have same number of
significant figures as there are in the
number with the fewest significant figures.
4.2 x 10-3 (15.94) = 2.96886918 x 10-6 (calculator)

2.255 x 104
Which number has the fewest significant

figures?
Therefore, the answer is 3.0 × 10-6
SCIENTIFIC
NOTATION

Scientific (Exponential)
Notation
Used to express very large or very
small numbers easily: 10 to a
power
Positive Exponent: 103 = 10x10x10 = 1000
Negative Exponent: 10-3 = 1 / 10+3

= 1 / (1000)
Put a number into Scientific Notation
Format: a. aaa x 10bb
• To convert a number greater than 1 to scientific
notation, the original decimal point is moved x
places to the left, and the resulting number is
multiplied by 10x.
• The exponent x is a positive number equal to

the number of places the decimal point moved
5345 = 5.345 × 103
Here are some examples of
scientific notation.
10000 = 1 x 104 24327 = 2.4327 x 104
1000 = 1 x 103 7354 = 7.354 x 103
100 = 1 x 102 482 = 4.82 x 102
89 = 8.9 x 101 (not usually
10 = 1 x 101
done)
1 = 100
0.32 = 3.2 x 10-1 (not usually
1/10 = 0.1 = 1 x 10-1
done)
1/100 = 0.01 = 1 x 10-2 0.053 = 5.3 x 10-2
1/1000 = 0.001 = 1 x 10-3 0.0078 = 7.8 x 10-3
1/10000 = 0.0001 = 1 x 10-4 0.00044 = 4.4 x 10-4
How to do calculations:
On your scientific calculator:
1. Make sure that the number in scientific notation is
put into your calculator correctly.
2. Read the directions for your particular calculator.
3. Punch the number (the digit number) into your

calculator.
4. Push the EE or EXP button. Do NOT use the x

(times) button!!
5. Enter the exponent number. Use the +/- button to

change its sign.
Addition and Subtraction
All numbers are converted

to the same power of 10,
and the digit terms are
added or subtracted.
1. Change the numbers so all have the same
exponent.
2. Add/subtract the coefficients, the
exponents remain the same.
3. Change the coefficient to a value between
1 and 10.
EXAMPLE:
4 x 103 = 4.0 x 103 5.8 x 103
+ 3 x 102 = 0.3 x 103 - 2.6 x 103
4.3 x 103 3.2 x 103
EXAMPLES:
 (4.215 x -2
10 ) + (3.2 x -4
10 ) =
(4.215 x 10-2) + (0.032 x 10-2) =
4.247 x 10 -2
 (8.97 x 104) - (2.62 x 103) =

4 4
(8.97 x 10 ) - (0.262 x 10 ) =
8.71 x 10 4
MULTIPLICATION
 The digit terms are multiplied in

the normal way and the
exponents are added.
 The end result is changed so that

there is only one nonzero digit to
the left of the decimal.
Multiplication
1. Multiply the coefficients directly.
2. Add the exponents.
3. Change the coefficient to a value between 1 and
10.
EXAMPLE:
(5.0 x 103) x (3.0 x 104) = (5.0x3.0) x (103 x 104)
= 15 x 107
= 1.5 x 108
(7.0 x 102) x (2.5 x 10-6) = (7.0x2.5) x (102 x 10-6)
= 17.5 x 10-4
= 1.75 x 10-3
EXAMPLE:
 (3.4 x 106)(4.2 x 103) =
(3.4)(4.2) x 10(6+3) = 14.28 x 109
= 1.4 x 1010 (to 2
significant figures)
 (6.73 x 10-5)(2.91 x 102) =

(6.73)(2.91) x 10(-5+2) = 19.58 x 10-3
= 1.96 x 10-2
(to 3 significant figures)
DIVISION
 The digit terms are divided in
the normal way and the
exponents are subtracted.
 The quotient is changed (if

necessary) so that there is only
one nonzero digit to the left of
the decimal.
Division
1. Divide the coefficients directly.
2. Subtract the exponents.
3. Change the coefficient to a value between 1
and 10.
EXAMPLE:
(5.0 x 103) / (3.0 x 105) = (5.0 / 3.0) x (103 / 105)
= 1.7 x 10-2
(3.0 x 102) / (8.0 x 10-5) = (3.0 / 8.0) x (102 /10-5)

= 0.38 x 107
= 3.8 x 106
EXAMPLES:
 (6.4 x 106)/(8.9 x 102) = (6.4)/(8.9) x 10(6-2)

= 0.719 x 104 = 7.2 x 103 (to 2
 (3.2 x 103)/(5.7 x 10-2) =

(3.2)/(5.7) x 103-(-2) = 0.561 x 105
= 5.6 x 104 (to 2
ROUNDING
OFF
NUMBERS
What is "Rounding" ?
 Rounding means reducing the digits in
a number while trying to keep its value
similar.
 The result is less accurate, but easier

to use.
Example: 73 rounded to the nearest

ten is 70, because 73 is closer to 70
than to 80.
Common Method
 There are several different
methods for rounding, but here
we will only look at
the common method, the one
used by most people ...
Half Round Up (the common
method of rounding)
 The common method of rounding

is to make 0.5 go up, so 7.5
rounds up to 8
 7.5 usually rounds up to 8

Example:
7.3 rounds to 7 because

7.3 is closer to 7 than to 8
But what about 7.5? Is it closer
to 7 or closer to 8? It is half-way
in between, so what should we
do?
 But this is not a law or anything, it
is just what people
normally agree to do, and we get
this:
7.6 rounds up to 8
7.5 rounds up to 8
7.4 rounds down to 7

How to round off numbers?
1. Decide which is the last digit
to keep.
2. Leave it the same if the next

digit is less than 5 (this is
called rounding down)
But increase it by 1 if the next digit

is 5 or more (this is
called rounding up)
EXAMPLES:
Round 74 to the nearest 10
We want to keep the "7" as it is in the
10s position
The next digit is "4" which is less than

5, so no change is needed to "7"
Answer:
70 (74 gets "rounded down")

EXAMPLES:
Round 86 to the nearest 10
We want to keep the "8"
The next digit is "6" which is 5 or more,

so increase the "8" by 1 to "9"
Answer:
90 (86 gets "rounded up")
So: when the first digit removed is 5 or more,

increase the last digit remaining by 1.
ROUNDING DECIMALS
1. First you need to know if you are
rounding to tenths, or
hundredths, etc.
2. Or maybe to "so many decimal

places". That tells you how much
of the number will be left when
you finish.
ROUNDING DECIMALS
Examples Because ...
3.1416 rounded to ... the next digit (1) is

hundredths is 3.14 less than 5
1.2635 rounded to ... the next digit (6) is

tenths is 1.3 5 or more
1.2635 rounded to 3 ... the next digit (5) is

decimal places is 1.264 5 or more
ROUNDING WHOLE NUMBERS
You may want to round to tens,
hundreds, etc, In this case you replace
the removed digits with zero.
134.9 rounded to tens is ... the next digit (4) is

130 less than 5
12,690 rounded to ... the next digit (6) is 5 or
thousands is 13,000 more
... the next digit (2) is
1.239 rounded to units is 1
less than 5
ROUNDING TO SIGNIFICANT DIGITS
1. To round "so many" significant digits,
just count digits from left to right,
and then round off from there.
Note: if there are leading zeros (such as

0.006), don't count them because they
are only there to show how small the
number is.
ROUNDING TO SIGNIFICANT DIGITS
1.239 rounded to 3
... the next digit (9)
significant digits is
is 5 or more
1.24
134.9 rounded to 1
significant digit is
is less than 5
100
0.0165 rounded to 2
significant digits is
is 5 or more
0.017
CONVERSION
OF
UNITS
Conversions
• Proportions will help you make
conversions when working with
measurements.
• Create a unit conversion ratio, which is
always equal to 1:
Conversion
Example 1:
How many yards are in 15 feet?
There are 3 feet in one yard, so

the conversion ratio is 1 yd /
3 ft:
ANSWER
5 yards
Example 2:
How many cups in one gallon?
• There is no direct connection from cups

to gallons.
• There are, however, 4 cups in one quart

and 4 quarts in one gallon. So
the conversion ratio could be:
ANSWER
16 cups

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SIGNIFICANT

Dr. Ma. Victoria Delis-Naboya

Uncertainty is measured using:

67.2 units = Three significant figures

The number of significant digits is independent of the

These numbers all have three significant figures!

3. Captive zeros are always significant.

4. Trailing zeros are always significant.

4.2 x 10-3 (15.94) =

Which number has the fewest significant

4.2 x 10-3 (15.94) = 2.96886918 x 10-6 (calculator)

Which number has the fewest significant

Dr. Ma. Victoria Delis-Naboya

Positive Exponent: 103 = 10x10x10 = 1000

Negative Exponent: 10-3 = 1 / 10+3

• The exponent x is a positive number equal to

2. Read the directions for your particular calculator.

3. Punch the number (the digit number) into your

4. Push the EE or EXP button. Do NOT use the x

5. Enter the exponent number. Use the +/- button to

All numbers are converted

 (8.97 x 104) - (2.62 x 103) =

 The digit terms are multiplied in

 The end result is changed so that

 (6.73 x 10-5)(2.91 x 102) =

 The quotient is changed (if

(3.0 x 102) / (8.0 x 10-5) = (3.0 / 8.0) x (102 /10-5)

 (6.4 x 106)/(8.9 x 102) = (6.4)/(8.9) x 10(6-2)

 (3.2 x 103)/(5.7 x 10-2) =

 The result is less accurate, but easier

Example: 73 rounded to the nearest

 The common method of rounding

 7.5 usually rounds up to 8

7.3 rounds to 7 because

2. Leave it the same if the next

But increase it by 1 if the next digit

The next digit is "4" which is less than

70 (74 gets "rounded down")

The next digit is "6" which is 5 or more,

So: when the first digit removed is 5 or more,

2. Or maybe to "so many decimal

3.1416 rounded to ... the next digit (1) is

1.2635 rounded to ... the next digit (6) is

1.2635 rounded to 3 ... the next digit (5) is

134.9 rounded to tens is ... the next digit (4) is

Note: if there are leading zeros (such as

There are 3 feet in one yard, so

• There is no direct connection from cups

• There are, however, 4 cups in one quart

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