SigFig Clarification

[Vy Le 1G]

Hello, I am confused if 0.023 is 2 sigfigs or 3 sigfigs. I thought it was 2 since the other zeros are just placeholders but someone told me it was 3 since it was after the decimal. I know 2.0 is two sigfigs but I don’t see how the leading zeros would be a sigfig.

[Chem_Mod]

Hello Vy,

As you said earlier, 0.023 would have two sig figs. In this scenario, the 0's (despite being clustered near a decimal point) would not be significant as they are leading.

[Kirsten Yu 2K]

Hi, Vy! You were correct about "0.023" only having two sig figs (2 and 3). Because the zeros are leading, they are not significant, as they do not add information regarding the precision of the number.

[Holly Do 2J]

Hello!

You are correct in your thinking that it is 2 sig figs. This is because leading zeros are NEVER counted even if there is a decimal point. Zeros would count if they are sandwiched between 2 other non zero numbers or if they are trailing with a decimal point.

Hope this helps!

[Rebekah Jung 1C]

Hi! I believe .023 is only 2 sig figs, but if it was .0230, then it would be 3.

[Neha Mukund]

I believe 0.023 has two sig figs; This is because leading zeros (zeros in front of non-zero numbers) are insignificant.
Hope that helps.

[ThomasL1L]

It is two sigfigs as there is no number before the decimal point and thus only the numbers at the end within the decimal count as sig figs so that would be the 2 and 3 at the end.

[Peter Fernandez 2K]

It would be 2 sig figs since zeros on the left of the number wouldn't count but the zeros to the right would.

[Milli Zunich 3I]

Hi! That would be 2 sig figs. Only trailing zeros matter.

[Litsa Dimit 1D]

It would have two significant sig figs because the leading zeros do not count, only if it is trailing.

[Dillon Taing 3H]

In this case, 0.023 does have two significant figures because the zeros are leading. They would only be considered significant if they were in the middle of two non-zero digits or are trailing.

[Evan L 2B]

When there is no decimal point the trailing zeros are not counted as sig figs and when there is a decimal point any leading zeros are not counted as sig figs. In this problem you are correct and 0.023 has 2 sig figs.

[isabella garcia - 1G]

Zeros are only considered significant if they are trailing, leading zeros aren't sig figs. you were right

[Madison Kiggins 1E]

Hi, like some others have said, you are right in thinking that 0.023 would be 2 sig figs. Leading zeros are not significant. Zeros are only significant when they are sandwiched between two other numbers or trailing with a decimal point. For example, both 0.203 and 0.230 would have 3 significant figures.

[Shay Crookall 2L]

Hey! That would be 2 sig figs. Leading zeros are insignificant. :)

[Natalie Quilala 1I]

There would be two sig figs in 0.023, as the zero after the decimal place is a leading zero and thus is not included in the counted sig figs (only the 2 and 3 are).

[Bailey Herbert 2L]

Hi!

You are correct that that number only has 2 sig figs since the zero is a leading zero. If there was a zero at the end of that number as well, then it would have 3 sig figs since the last zero would be considered a significant figure.

[Jessica Berejikian]

In 0.023, 2 and 3 are the only two sig figs because the zero is leading. Think of it as if it were in scientific notation (2.3x10^-3) where it only has two sig figs.

[Olivia Ghorai 1J]

There are only two sigfigs. Zeros are only significant if
1. the zero(s) are sandwiched between two non zero numbers: 1,002
2. the zero is next to a decimal point like shown : 180.
3. The zero is after a nonzero number and in a decimal place : 19.00

[Nithya Madhu 2L]

Hey,
You are right! Leading zeros don't count for sig figs.
There are only 2 sig figs, since only 2 and 3 count.

[SheaZenker_3F]

0.023 is two sig figs, these are the only numbers that dictate the value of the number

[LaurenAkason2A]

Hey! O.023 would have 2 sig figs just like you thought. One of the sig figs rules is that leading zeros following a decimal with numbers after it are not significant.

[405532435]

Usually, when there are zeros before actual numbers, the zeros are not counted. So you are correct, the number has two significant figures.

[Maia Holmes Kueny 1C]

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