## sig fig numbers

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Jasmine Chow 1F
Posts: 60
Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2018 12:16 am
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### sig fig numbers

When you are doing an exam should the final answer be in the lowest number or the highest number of sig figs from the problem?

Beatrice Petelo 1F
Posts: 62
Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2018 12:17 am

### Re: sig fig numbers

Hi!
Answers on the hw and exam should always use the least number of sig figs.

Manu Vohra 1L
Posts: 61
Joined: Wed Oct 03, 2018 12:15 am

### Re: sig fig numbers

It should be the lowest number of significant figures out of the values given to you in the problem. So for example, if I am given two values, one with 3 significant figures and one with 2 significant figures in the problem, my final answer should have 2 significant figures, regardless of any outside values I am using to get to it (like those values from a periodic table and such).

Dayna Pham 1I
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Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2018 12:16 am
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### Re: sig fig numbers

Hi!

It depends what computations you are doing in the problem.
Most problems require multiplication and/or division, in which case your answer should include the least number of significant figures from the problem.
If the problem only requires addition and/or subtraction, then your answer should include the least number of decimal places from the problem.

More information can be found on Dr. Lavelle's website, under "Everything you want to know about sig figs."
Here's the link: https://lavelle.chem.ucla.edu/wp-conten ... OUT_SF.pdf

Hope this helps!

Millicent Navarro 1I
Posts: 61
Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2018 12:25 am

### Re: sig fig numbers

When it comes to significant numbers, the rules of thumb I use are:

Multiplication/division: Answers will be in the least number of significant figures