how many sigfigs

[Emily Wu 2G]

Should we follow the same number of signings as shown in the question throughout us answering its, or should we always follow the two sigfigs rule?

[Srikar_Chintala_1E]

You should always use the lowest amount of sig figs based on the values you are using for calculations. For instance, if you are multiplying a number with 3 sig figs with a number with 2 sig figs, your answer should have 2 sig figs. This is the general rule for sig figs when dealing with calculations.

[Chem_Mod]

Hello Emily,

Please refer to the post "All students read this sig fig post" for clarification.

[Jessica Tam 3H]

I believe the general rule to sig figs is to follow what is given in a question and then following the multiplication, division, addition, and subtraction rules. The rule to multiplying and dividing is that you round off to the one with less significant figures. For example, if you wanted to know how many grams of carbon dioxide was in 3.5 moles, you would multiply 3.5 mol by the atomic mass (44.01g.mol^-1). That would give you 154.035 grams of CO2, but with considering sig figs, it would be 150g of CO2. The rule to adding and subtracting is that you round off to the smallest number of decimal places in the given data. For example, 100.54g of water + 24.6g of water = 125.1g of water in total.

[oliviacarnot]

you should always use the number with the smallest amount of sig figs as a reference for how many you should end with. For example:
you have 9.0 and then 25.3. The 9.0 has 2 sig figs while the 25.3 has 3. So your final answer should have only two sig figs.

[Daryl Gall 1E]

You should always follow the value of least sig figs given to you in a question, because this is the most accurate you can be with your answer. Therefore, you should report your final answer to the number of sig figs as the value given to you in the questions sig figs.

[Connor_Olsen_2K]

As the others have said, base it upon the least significant figures. You want to be as concise as possible and sig figs follow that logic.

[Vashe Sundar 3H]

Hi!

You should use the same amount of significant figures of the provided figure with the least amount of significant figures. However, do not simplify your answer to the correct number of significant figures, until the end of the problem. Also, remember to not use exact figures as a basis for the # of sig figs your answer is. This basically means any conversion factors or counted number (e.g. 24 apples or 3ft = 1yd).

[Mario Prado 1K]

Hello,

Usually when talking about sig figs the rule is to use the amount of sig figs given in the question and use the entirety of the numbers when calculating. Finally when you get the answer you returns back to the number of sig figs given in the original problem.

Hope this helps.

[Samantha Quevedo 2L]

What is the two sig figs rule?

[Rio Gagnon 1G]

Your answer should contain the same amount of sig figs as the number you were given for your calculations that has the least amount of sig figs. However, you should not round your answer to that amount of sig figs until the very end of the problem so that your answer is as precise as possible.

[Neha Mukund]

I believe your answer should have the same amount of sig figs as the number in the given problem with the least sig figs. Also it is important to not round any numbers until the very end when you need to truncate the number to the proper amount of sig figs.

[davis sandberg 2H]

Sigfigs are based on the values that you're given in the problem. Usually, the initial value given in the question will limit the number of sigfigs in your answer.

[Jennifer Kainth 3L]

Your solution should have the same number of significant figures as that of the number provided with the least significant figures. 

[Desiree Eshraghi 3A]

Never follow the just two sig fig rules. Always refer to the value with the least sig figs. HOWEVER, if you're referring to Achieve assignments, it doesn't hurt to have MORE sig figs then it actually should be.

[tashyavakil 2K]

There isn't exactly a general rule to follow in every equation or calculation. If you look at the sig figs rules they vary depending on whether you're multiplying/dividing or adding and subtracting. I would use those rules to figure out the exact number of sig figs.

[Abigail Tran 14a]

I think you should follow the sigfigs in the question. I think your answer should have the same amount of sigfigs as the number with the least sigfigs in the question.

[Kristen Bansil 1G]

I believe that the two sigfig rule could be helpful but you should definitely take into factor the sigfigs of the value provided by the problem, I feel that having more sigfigs allows room for error!

[Neha Mukund]

Hi Emily,
I would use the same amount of sig figs as the number given in the problem with the lowest amount of sig figs. I would not round however, until the very end of the problem. Hope that helped.

[LaurenAkason2A]

Hi! As others have said before, you need to follow the amount of sig figs in the problem. Hope this helps!

[Coraly De Leon]

Hello,
We should stick to the lowest amount of sig figs, unless stated in a question or directions, for example.

[Shannon Clark 1F]

You should use the smallest number of sigfigs that are given in the question

[105778693]

Stick to the smallest number of sig figs given in the question.

[Rebecca Preusch 2C]

Lowest number of sig figs in the numbers given to you is the general rule unless otherwise specified.

[Milli Zunich 3I]

Unless stated otherwise in the question, use the smallest amount of sigfigs given.

[305692127]

I know when You multiple numbers you keep the same amount of sig figs as the smallest sig fig but what if you are adding or subtracting the numbers how does one know how many sig figs to keep?

[605778346]

Hi, when solving equations, I tend to use the least amount of sig figs shown in the equation. For example, if the lowest amount of sig figs in the equation is 2, my final answer will only have 2 sig figs.

[Ivan_Tang_2G]

I believe you should follow what is given in the question and base your SFs on that.

[305692127]

Hi, when solving equations, I tend to use the least amount of sig figs shown in the equation. For example, if the lowest amount of sig figs in the equation is 2, my final answer will only have 2 sig figs.

That seems correct. Also it depends on whether you multiply/divide numbers or add/subtract. When you multiply/divide numbers, you keep the least amount of SF, meanwhile when you add/subtract numbers you should have no more significant figures to the right of the decimal than the least number of significant figures in any number in the problem.

[Jieun 2C]

We should follow the significant rule throughout the question because the question may end up having an answer with more than two significant figures.

[Kaitlyn_Urquilla_1I]

Hi! I would say to follow how many sig figs there are in the question and then wait to round until the end just so you get a more accurate answer.

[JasmineReyes-2K]

Hi!

Always try to use the lowest amount of sig figs based for your answers/values! This helps greatly when understanding your value and what your answer should be

[Cynthia_L_2C]

Theres no general rule, but you want to lowest amount of sig figs! Achieve can be a bit tricky sometimes, so you want to consider adding more.

[14b_student 2E]

Use the lowest number of sig figs out of the numbers given in the question.

[Maia Holmes Kueny 1C]

Always use the lowest number of sig figs.

[Desiree Eshraghi 3A]

When calculating use as many sigfigs as possible to get an accurate answer. Round to the correct sigfig when you find the answer.

[005502505]

Hi!

When solving an equation, I try to keep as many numerical values after the decimal as possible (for accuracy's sake). However, when it comes to a final answer, I simplify using sig figs. I round to the number of sig figs that matches the lowest number of sig figs given in a numerical value at the beginning of the problem. Hope this helps!