Rules For Significant Figures

[kevinav]

Can sombody explain the rules for what is considered a significant figure?

[Kenan Kherallah 2C]

I think explaining it would be better through examples.
1.0 has two sig figs
10 has one sig fig, so does 100, so does 2000.
2300 has two sig figs (so numbers before zeros count as sig figs). But if a decimal is placed then the zeros are significant e.g 2300. has 4 sig figs.
0.003 has one sig fig
0.00030 has 2 sig figs

[Avery Zuelch 1D]

There was one thing that Dr. Lavelle mentioned in class that really helped me understand how to determine how many significant figures are present in a number. If you are unsure on the amount of significant figures in a number, convert the number into scientific notation. The number of didgets in the first part of the scientific notation will be the number of sig figs! Hope this helped, and best of luck!!

[Jake Gordon 1A]

I was taught to visualize the United States
If the decimal is present in this number start on the pacific side P. If it is absent, start on the Atlantic side A.
Then from the first non zero digit underline all other digits in that direction. These are the significant figures.

When adding and subtracting, use the least number of decimal spaces, and for multiplying and dividing use the least number of significant figures being used in the calculation.

[Riya Shah 4H]

So how many sigfigs are there in 705.0090 ??

[Kayla Vo 1B]

The number 705.0090 would have 7 significant figures based on the rules listed above.

[Karishma_1G]

These are the rules that I learned and use when determining how many significant figures are in a value:

1. All nonzero digits are significant (ex: 345.23 has 5 significant figures)
2. Zeroes between between two nonzero digits are significant (ex: 103.106 has six significant figures)
3. Zeroes to the left of the first nonzero digit are NOT significant (ex: 0.0008 has 1 significant figure)
4. Zeroes after a decimal point are significant (ex: 45.000 has five significant figures)
5. Zeroes before a decimal point and after a nonzero digit are significant (ex: 2500.00 has six significant figures)
6. I think that the rule for zeroes before an implied decimal point is that they are ambiguous so it's better to just use scientific notation.

Hope this helps!