All students read this sig fig post [ENDORSED]

[Rida Ismail 2E]

Will we be penalized for putting extra significant figures?

Yes, I believe we will because sig figs determine the amount of precision that a number contains. If we have too many or too few sig figs, our precision for that number will be off

[ZevMarx-Kahn3C]

How do you deal with significant figures when you have exact values (e.g., exactly 1:2 ratio of molecules in a reaction)? Do we treat the exact value as having infinite sig figs?

[Emma Joy Schaetz 1E]

Are we supposed to have the correct sig figs for each step or just the final answer?

Thanks!

Only the final answer requires the correct number of significant figures but for quizzes there are only a certain amount of points you can lose for significant figures. In others words you do not lose a point every time your sig figs are incorrect on an answer. I was told by a TA there are only so many points awarded for this and it is better to understand the concepts and calculations and then implement your sig fig knowledge

Is this also true for exams? Or will the midterm and final take off more points for sig figs?

[Justin Quan 4I]

When showing work on homework, must we write out all the sig figs in the intermediate steps even when we know the final answer will have fewer sig figs?

[Nathan Rothschild_2D]

Also don't forget any equations or constants that you are using to convert g to mols or anything else should not be taken into account for when figuring how many sig figs your answer should be in.

[Nathan Rothschild_2D]

No you don't have to write out every sig fig. If the final answer is 3 sig figs then you will be fine if you use 3 in the intermediary steps.

[SMIYAZAKI_1B]

Do you know if the problems will specifically tell us how many significant figures to use?

Okay so when it comes to sig figs, it isn't about the problem telling you which places to round up to, but rather it is about how many digits are present in the values provided. For example, had said that problem stated 3.55g, that refers to 3 significant figures. Therefore, you would want to round to that value if what you are doing is multiplication or division. For addition and subtraction, you want to round it to the decimal places. For example, if the problem stated 7.4m, that means you want to round the answer to tenth place for your answer. As the initial post stated, you don't want to try rounding in the middle of the process because that often times messes up by a small margin which can be crucial to the problem.

[McKenna_4A]

Will we be penalized for putting extra significant figures?

I think so. But definitely use extra sig figs during calculations

[McKenna_4A]

Will we be penalized for putting extra significant figures?

I think so. But definitely use extra sig figs during calculations

[ahuang]

For the upcoming test on Tuesday, will we be penalized for having incorrect sig figs?

[405398682]

I can easily get confused when I am trying to figure out the sig figs in the calculation of mole/mass using molar mass. Should I just consider the number of sig figs depending on the numbers in the molar mass?

[405398682]

Should I take sig figs while I am calculating one problem step by step? Should I use sig figs every step or should I just consider the sig figs on the very last calculation?

[Abraham De Luna]

Should I take sig figs while I am calculating one problem step by step? Should I use sig figs every step or should I just consider the sig figs on the very last calculation?

I believe that you should only use significant figures on the last calculation. It is also important to keep in mind that significant figures will be important on the test that we have Tuesday.

[Ethan Low 1L]

I think something that helps with the sig fig issue is under appendix 1 in the mastering chemistry textbook, part 1C "Scientific Notation", i think reading that would help illuminate a lot of misconceptions/ preconceived notions behind how to present significant figures.

[Adelpha Chan 1B]

Should I take sig figs while I am calculating one problem step by step? Should I use sig figs every step or should I just consider the sig figs on the very last calculation?

Keep as many significant figures as you can during the middle steps to ensure you are getting an accurate answer. Rounding for significant figures should only be done in the final step.

[Nathan Rothschild_2D]

If you must round sig figs earlier in a problem because something has so many sig figs it is a nuisance to write out then just add 3 sig figs to whatever your final answers number of sig figs should be when rounding. I use this for just cases of multiplication, division, addition, and subtraction. If you are doing something to the power of another I would use an additional 5 sig figs and this generally does not affect my final answer.

[RBergtraun_3A]

Will we be penalized for putting extra significant figures?

Without a doubt. I would not add any extra.

[Jaden Joodi 3J]

Do you know if the problems will specifically tell us how many significant figures to use?

First time using this forum so I have no idea if I am doing it right, but to try and answer your question: It is highly unlikely that any problems will specify how many significant figures to use in the answer. The best way to determine the amount of Sig. Figs. to use in the answer would be to use the same amount of Sig. Figs. as the lowest provided during the question. i.e if the question was "3.062 x 4.52", the answer would be 13.9, instead of 13.8024 (3.062 has 4 Sig. Figs. while 4.52 has 3 Sig. Figs., so the answer can only have 3 Sig. Figs.)

[Arnav Saud 2C]

Quick question concerning sig figs, do we round up if the number is 5?

[505612629]

When submitting an answer online on sapling, what is the format for sig figs? Do I need to change it to have "x 10^_"?

[angelasavage]

Quick question concerning sig figs, do we round up if the number is 5?

I was told that it depends on the digit to the left of it. If the digit to the left of the 5 is even, you don't include the 5 at all, but if the digit to the left of the 5 is odd, you round so that the number is even.

[keely_bales_1f]

In my discussion class, my TA said that 0.500g is only 1 significant figure. I am pretty sure it was 3 significant figures, but I just wanted to double check here.

[Irene Nguyen 3H]

In my discussion class, my TA said that 0.500g is only 1 significant figure. I am pretty sure it was 3 significant figures, but I just wanted to double check here.

I'm certain 0.500 has 3 significant figures because trailing zeroes are taken into account because there's a decimal point. Leading zeroes, however, are never significant-- so 0.005 is only 1 sig fig, but 0.500 has 3.

[SophiaBarden 2E]

Does Sapling homework normally take into account the sig figs? I had some problems submitting an answer with the correct rounding and took multiple tries.

[SophiaBarden 2E]

In my discussion class, my TA said that 0.500g is only 1 significant figure. I am pretty sure it was 3 significant figures, but I just wanted to double check here.

The Sig figs sheet on Lavelle's website states that trailing zeros with a decimal point are counted as significant. Take a look at that page, it is helpful!

[Emilie_Paltrinieri_1K]

I think we will have to understand, through the various rules, what significant figure is appropriate for the exercise given. Remember the different regarding zeros, decimal places and different approaches for subtraction/addition and multiplication/division.

[605291562]

Does sapling take sig figs into account? I know some other online textbooks have a buffer so you still get credit even if your answer is rounded wrong.

[Rajshree 1F]

How do we know how many significant figures should be in our final answer? Is it based on the lowest number of significant figures given in the problem? I recall learning that during each step of calculation the number of significant figures in that step and the operation being done during that step dictates how many significant figures the answer should have.

[keely_bales_1f]

In my discussion class, my TA said that 0.500g is only 1 significant figure. I am pretty sure it was 3 significant figures, but I just wanted to double check here.

The Sig figs sheet on Lavelle's website states that trailing zeros with a decimal point are counted as significant. Take a look at that page, it is helpful!

Thank you so much! I will go ahead and give it a look.

[keely_bales_1f]

In my discussion class, my TA said that 0.500g is only 1 significant figure. I am pretty sure it was 3 significant figures, but I just wanted to double check here.

I'm certain 0.500 has 3 significant figures because trailing zeroes are taken into account because there's a decimal point. Leading zeroes, however, are never significant-- so 0.005 is only 1 sig fig, but 0.500 has 3.

Thank you for confirming. Just wanted to make sure.

[Emily_Stenzler_2H]

Do sig figs (and how many sig figs should be in the final answer) have any real applications in a chemistry lab? Or is this simply something we do for practice when showing calculations?

[Michelle Le 3C]

In terms of problems with multiple steps, do we maintain the sig figs after each step? Or do we round it to sig figs at the end?

[Kiara Phillips 3L]

Do you know if the problems will specifically tell us how many significant figures to use?

No, and because this is a useful tool for chemistry in general it is best that we learn the rules although they are tasking at times. Good luck!

[Kandyce Lance 3E]

Do you know if the problems will specifically tell us how many significant figures to use?

I believe you use the lowest number of sig figs gives from numbers in the question