What is the purpose of significant figures?

[Kaihan_Danesh_2J]

I understand the process of finding the number of significant figures in the questions we have been assigned, but I never understood why we round the way we do and why we round differently depending on whether we subtract/add or multiply/divide. Does anyone here know the answer?

[Hannah Biju 1E]

The purpose of sig figs is to get a precise answer.

[Yolanda_Xing_3A]

It matters with accuracy and precision. It is better to keep the significant figure the same or else the resulting numbers would be very uncertain. For example, if a sample has 0.567g but you rounded it 0.5g. Then after may calculation steps, you may get an answer very different from what it actually is.

[Ivan Chen 2H]

I think it helps you describe how precise your answer or measurement is. For example if you obtained measurements with a lot of sig figs (precise) and measurements with very few (imprecise) in an experiment, it would be safer to opt for the less precise sig figs in order to highlight the imprecision within the experiment. It's sort of like including a margin of error, I hope this isn't confusing!

[Renny_kim_2G]

Significant figures are confusing and have several rules that one must adhere to. While the main purpose is to maintain order and to be as precise as possible. On the differences of adding/subtracting and multiplying/dividing, these are just rules that we must accept. Although it is good to always question and ask why something is, it may be more confusing if you try to break down why we go with the least number of significant figures of multiplying/dividing and decimal places of the least significant number of adding/subtracting.

[Rayna Irving 2C]

In addition to precision and accuracy, significant figures also a way to make sure that the results we report are both honest and relevant to the problem. Also, because everyone may round differently resulting in multiple varying final answers, sig figs are needed so we can get a general consensus on what the actual right answer is.

[Blas_Rodriguez_1B]

the main purpose is to have a more precise answer.this can really help when doing lab procedures.

[Taha 2D]

They're important to uphold precision and accuracy but along with that it helps you keep track of your working because it is recommended to use the same sig figs as the given raw data. Along with that they're important when it comes to calculating the uncertainty of your final results.

[Susanna Givan 2B]

They are we guarantee that we know that the data is accurate too.

[Eunice_Castro_1G]

The purpose of scientific figures is to help you get a more precise answer. Hope this helps!

[Muskaan Abdul-Sattar]

I'm pretty sure it just has to do with accuracy and precision according to what I looked up. They use sig figs in physics as well.

[Cass Cheng 2A]

Yeah, like the other commenters said, sig figs are useful for precision. This is especially important when you're in a lab and you have to measure specific volumes. Let's say you have to measure the volume of water in mL to 3 sig figs. Everything else you measure for the volume should always be three sig figs then. If you measure another liquid with 2 sig figs and you do mathematical calculations between the water and other liquid, your answer may be different. For example, 5.65 mL x 4.98 mL produces a different answer than 5.65 mL x 5.0 mL. The answer needs to be consistent with the number of sig figs that you start with. Or else it won't be as accurate. That is why sig figs are important.

[Audrey Banzali-Marks 1A]

Sig figs matter because they tell us how precise we are being, which is especially important in experiments. More sig figs = more precise measurements! It's like the difference between measuring something in centimeters versus millimeter markers on a ruler. With centimeters, you can measure something that is approximately 5 centimeters long. Using the millimeter markers however, you have more marks to allow you to denote more precise measurements. That same 5 centimeter object may actually extend past the 5cm mark by 1mm, so you could say that the object is 5.1cm long instead, which is a more precise measurement.

[Alejandro Oliva 2F]

Sig Figs provide significance in two fields: accuracy and precision. In accuracy, sig figs can serve to identify how closely related an individual measurement is with the true or desired value of a substance/object. In precision, sig figs help to "narrow down a measurement", that is to say, we can utilize presented or identified increments as to find how closely individual measurements agree. Some examples of sig figs include:

[Amy Shimizu 1J]

Sig figs emphasize precision, especially when taking measurements during labs and when performing calculations.

[Nova Akhavan 2F]

Sig Figs help make sure you get the most precise measurement possible so that your answer does present a calculated value that is guessed.

[Iman Gauhar 3E]

Significant figures are used to maintain consistency and precision in your calculations. You have to use the same number of significant figures in all of your calculations so you obtain the most precise answer. Significant figures also help to standardize calculations, especially if you're working in a group or lab setting. If someone is making calculations with 2 significant figures and another person is using 3, then they will have different answers or measurements.

[Ivan_Tang_2G]

SFs are in relation to the relative precision of a given number that is measured. Especially important in chem since we are dealing with experimental data.