sig figs

[Bailey Wallace 3A]

When do trailing zeros count as significant figures?

[Sharon Chu 3I]

Trailing zeros count after the decimal. For example. In the number 5000, the three trailing zeros do not count as significant digits. However, in the number 0.05000, the three trailing zeros count as significant digits and this is because it is after the decimal.

[Alexander Moroz 1B]

Trailing zeros count as sig figs as long as they are both after an actual number and after a decimal. For example, there are 3 sig figs in 2.00 because the trailing zeros are after the number 2. There are also 3 sig figs in 0.0400 because only the zeros after the number 4 count, even though there is another zero after the decimal, but it is before the 4 so it is not counted as a sig fig.

But there are also examples like 70. which has 2 sig figs because there is a decimal which signifies that everything before the decimal is included.

Just make sure the zero is after a number and there is a decimal either before or after the zeros.

[Bailey Wallace 3A]

Trailing zeros count after the decimal. For example. In the number 5000, the three trailing zeros do not count as significant digits. However, in the number 0.05000, the three trailing zeros count as significant digits and this is because it is after the decimal.

Thank you so much!

[Bailey Wallace 3A]

Trailing zeros count as sig figs as long as they are both after an actual number and after a decimal. For example, there are 3 sig figs in 2.00 because the trailing zeros are after the number 2. There are also 3 sig figs in 0.0400 because only the zeros after the number 4 count, even though there is another zero after the decimal, but it is before the 4 so it is not counted as a sig fig.

But there are also examples like 70. which has 2 sig figs because there is a decimal which signifies that everything before the decimal is included.

Just make sure the zero is after a number and there is a decimal either before or after the zeros.

Thank you so much!

[Alan Nguyen 2I]

To add to the other responses, this is why it is important to use scientific notation when dealing with integers that have trailing zeroes. For example, if we wanted our value of 43000 to carry three significant digits, we must use scientific notation. At first glance we would assume two significant digits because the trailing zeroes would be ignored as significant digits. Here is how we should represent our value instead:
4.30 * 10^4
This clearly shows that we have three significant figures: the 4, the 3, and the 0 because it falls to the right of the decimal point.

I hope this helps!

[daniellediem1k]

they count when they follow a number!

[705573518]

Trailing zeros count as sig figs as long as they are both after an actual number and after a decimal. For example, there are 3 sig figs in 2.00 because the trailing zeros are after the number 2. There are also 3 sig figs in 0.0400 because only the zeros after the number 4 count, even though there is another zero after the decimal, but it is before the 4 so it is not counted as a sig fig.

But there are also examples like 70. which has 2 sig figs because there is a decimal which signifies that everything before the decimal is included.

Just make sure the zero is after a number and there is a decimal either before or after the zeros.

Thank you so much!

Just to clarify, you do not start counting zeros as sig figs until there is an actual number? What about after a decimal?

[emmakvarnell]

They only count as significant figures if they are trailing a decimal point or trailing a number after the decimal point to the right. For example, the zero in .30 is a significant figure (so two sig figs total). But, the zero in .03 is not a significant figure because it isn't trailing or to the right of the number after the decimal point.

[505686385]

Trailing zeros count as sig figs as long as they are both after an actual number and after a decimal. For example, there are 3 sig figs in 2.00 because the trailing zeros are after the number 2. There are also 3 sig figs in 0.0400 because only the zeros after the number 4 count, even though there is another zero after the decimal, but it is before the 4 so it is not counted as a sig fig.

But there are also examples like 70. which has 2 sig figs because there is a decimal which signifies that everything before the decimal is included.

Just make sure the zero is after a number and there is a decimal either before or after the zeros.

This makes total sense. Let's say you have 5000 of something, that's only one significant figure. Now let's say you have 5000. of something, that will then be 4 significant figures counted.

[arielle_cunanan3K]

Trailing zeros count as sig figs when there is a decimal after those trailing zeroes. For example, 200. has 3 sig figs. When there is no decimal, after the trailing zeros, only the non zero number(s) is a sig fig. For example, 200 has 1 sig figs