SIGNIFICANT FIGURES

• Significant figures are the number of digits

required to report the result of a calculation
accurately
• It is that number of figures that are
absolutely sure plus one that is uncertain
 RULES FOR SIGNIFICANT FIGURES
1 All non zero digits in a measurement are significant
2 All zeros between two non zero digits are
significant
3 All zeros after a decimal but before a non zero
digit are not significant
4 All zeros right side of a decimal and right side of
non zero digit are significant
5 All zeros right side of a non zero digit in a whole
number are non significant
6 If there is a decimal part at the end of a whole
number, then all zeros just before the decimal are
significant
7 If number has a decimal part , then all zeros in
that number are significant
• When a number is expressed in scientific
notation, all zeros in that number are significant
RULES FOR ROUNDING OFF INSIGNIFICANT
FIGURES
 Q) The length and the radius of a cylinder measured
with a slide callipers are found to be 4.54 cm and 1.75
cm respectively . Calculate the volume of the cylinder .

• Length = l = 4.54 cm
Radius = r = 1.75 cm
Volume of cylinder = πr²l
= 3.14 x 1.75 x 1.75 x 4.54
= 43.6577 cm³
Now , we have to round off to 3 significant digits ,
V=43.7 cm³
 The radius of the earth is 6.37×106m and its mass is
5.975×1024 kg. Find the earth's average density to
appropriate significant figures.​

Here we have
density=mass of earth/volume of earth
𝑚
ρ=
4/3π𝑟3
5.975×1024x3
=
4𝑥3.14𝑥 6.37×106 3

=0.005517x106
=5.52x103kg/m3
ERROR ANALYSIS
• Length of a rod as measured in an
experiment was found to be 2048m , 2.46m
, 2.49m , 2.50m, and 2.48 m .Find true value
of length, absolute error in each
measurement and percentage error
• In an experiment to measure focal length
of a concave mirror, value of focal length in
successive measurements turns out to be
17.3cm,17.8cm,18.3cm,17.9cm,18.0cm.Calc
ulate the mean absolute error and
percentage error .Express the result in
proper way