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Significant Digits and Precision-2
Significant Digits and Precision-2
The concept of significant digits comes from the act of measurement. When a
measurement is made, the final digit recorded has some uncertainty in it. When using a
marked scale, the last recorded digit should be an estimate of the fraction of the space
between marks, as when measuring a length using a meter stick.
For digital readings, the electronics sets the level of significance. The last digit displayed
is significant and has some uncertainty. For example, a reading of 3.45 Volts on a digital
voltmeter means the actual voltage is between 3.445 and 3.455 volts.
Suppose Hope and Les are measuring the width of a room. Hope takes a long
metal rod and measures it to be 253.4 cm. long and she finds that the room is three of
these rods and a bit more. Less brings a precise caliper over and measures the extra bit as
23.042 cm. The total length of the room is then
3 x (253.4 cm.) + 23.042 cm. = 783.242 cm.
Now, let’s look at this carefully. Hope knows the length of the rod is 253.4 cm. or
between 253.3 and 253.5 cm. If we add 23.042 to 253.4, we get 276.442; but, which
digits really mean something?
Let’s see what range is covered by taking the high and low limits for 253.4 and adding
23.042.
253.3 + 23.042 = 276.342 and 253.5 + 23.042 = 276.542
These differ in the tenths place, so the smallest digit which is significant is the first place
to the right of the decimal. Another way to see this is:
253.4
+ 23.042
276.442
The .042 at the end is not significant because it is smaller than the uncertainty in 253.4.
Sig Figgis tells them to consider drawing the rectangle showing the uncertainty in Len’s
and Hyde’s numbers, calculate the area of the uncertain region and see how this
compares to the digits in the answer.
The shaded regions cover the uncertainty of ±.01 cm for each measurement. The area of
the longer shaded area is larger and will be sufficient to show the level of significance in
the answer. The calculation gives:
(.02) x 10.22 =.2044
So the uncertainty is in the tenths place and the area should be reported as 23.6 cm2. This
has three significant digits, the same as the factor with the fewest digits (2.31).