CHAPTER 1

• Introduction: Matter,
Energy, and
Measurement

1.5b Uncertainty in
Measurement (continuation)
ROUNDING OFF NON-SIGNIFICANT DIGITS:

Non-significant digits
• are digits in a measurement that exceed the
uncertainty of the instrument. Rounding off is the
process of eliminating digits that are not
significant.
Calculated Answers
In calculations:
▪ Answers must have the same number
of significant figures as the measured
numbers.
▪ Calculator answers must often be
rounded off.
▪ Rounding rules are used to obtain the
correct number of significant figures.
Rules in Rounding Off
If the figure following the
last number to be retained
<5
> 5 or 5 with other digits
following it
= 5 and no other digits
following it except 0
Rule
•all the unwanted figures
are discarded and the last
number is left unchanged
•last figure is increased by 1
and the unwanted figures
are discarded
• the last figure is
increased by 1 if it is
an odd number; or
• left unchanged if it is
an even number
(including 0)
Rounding Off Calculated Answers

▪ When the first digit dropped is 4 or less, the retained

numbers remain the same.
To round 45.832 to 3 significant figures
drop the digits 32 = 45.8

▪ When the first digit dropped is 5 or greater,

the last retained digit is increased by 1.
To round 2.4884 to 2 significant figures
drop the digits 884 = 2.5 (increase by 0.1)
Adding Significant Zeros
▪ Sometimes a calculated answer requires more significant
digits. Then one or more zeros are added.

Calculated answer Zeros added to

give 3 significant figures
4 4.00
1.5 1.50
0.2 0.200
12 12.0
Learning Check
Adjust the following calculated answers to give
answers with three significant figures:
A. 824.75 cm

B. 0.112486 g

C. 8.2 L
Solution
Adjust the following calculated answers to give
answers with three significant figures:
A. 825 cm First digit dropped is greater than 4.

B. 0.112 g First digit dropped is 4.

C. 8.20 L Significant zero is added.

Significant Figures
• When addition or subtraction is performed,
answers are rounded to the least significant
decimal place.
• When multiplication or division is performed,
answers are rounded to the number of digits that
corresponds to the least number of significant
figures in any of the numbers used in the
calculation.
RULES IN ROUNDING OFF SIGNIFICANT FIGURES
USING MATHEMATICAL OPERATIONS:
A. Addition and subtraction.
The number of significant figures to the right of
the decimal point in the final sum or difference is
determined by the fewest number of decimal
places to the right of the decimal point in any of
the original numbers.
Note: (Final Answer) Fewest number of decimal
places after the decimal point.
Addition and Subtraction
When adding or subtracting, use
▪ the same number of decimal places as the measurement
with the fewest decimal places
▪ rounding rules to adjust the number of digits in the answer
25.2 one decimal place
+ 1.34 two decimal places
26.54calculated answer
26.5 final answer (with one decimal
place)
Learning Check
For each calculation, round the answer to give the
correct number of decimal places.
A. 235.05 + 19.6 + 2 =
1) 257 2) 256.7 3) 256.65

B. 58.925 – 18.2 =
1) 40.725 2) 40.73 3) 40.7
Solution
A. 235.05
+19.6
+ 2
256.65 rounds to 257 Answer (1)

B. 58.925
–18.2
40.725 rounds to 40.7 Answer (3)
RULES IN ROUNDING OFF SIGNIFICANT FIGURES
USING MATHEMATICAL OPERATIONS:

B. Multiplication and division.

The number of significant figures in the final
product or quotient is determined by the
original number that has the smallest number
of significant figures.

Note: (Final Answer) Fewest number of

significant figures based on the original number.
Multiplication and Division
When multiplying or dividing use
▪ the same number of significant figures (SF) as the
measurement with the fewest significant figures
▪ rounding rules to obtain the correct number of significant
figures

Example:
110.5 x 0.048 = 5.304 = 5.3 (rounded)
4SFs 2SFs calculator 2SFs
Learning Check
Give an answer for the following with the correct number of
significant figures:
A. 2.19 x 4.2 =
1) 9 2) 9.2 3) 9.198
B. 4.311 ÷ 0.07 =
1) 61.59 2) 62 3) 60
C. 2.54 x 0.0028 =
0.0105 x 0.060
1) 11.3 2) 11 3) 0.041
Solution
A. 2.19 x 4.2 = 2) 9.2
B. 4.311 ÷ 0.07 = 3) 60
C. 2.54 x 0.0028 = 2) 11
0.0105 x 0.060

On a calculator, enter each number followed by the

operation key.
2.54 x 0.0028  0.0105  0.060 = 11.28888889
= 11 (rounded)
Scientific Notation
Scientific notation
▪ is used to write very large or
very small numbers
▪ for the width of a human
hair (0.000 008 m) is written
8 x 10-6 m
▪ for a large number such as 4
500 000 s is written
4.5 x 106 s
EXPONENTIAL NOTATION: based on
the power of ten
N x 10 n

where: N = any numbers from 1 to 9

n = any integer + or –
Writing Numbers in Scientific Notation
▪ A number in scientific notation contains a coefficient and a
power of 10.
coefficient power of ten coefficient power of ten
1.5 x 102 7.35 x 10-4
▪ To write a number in scientific notation, the decimal point is
placed after the first digit.
▪ The spaces moved are shown as a power of ten.
52 000. = 5.2 x 104 0.00378 = 3.78 x 10-3

4 spaces left 3 spaces right

Some Powers of Ten
Comparing Numbers in Standard and Scientific
Notation
Here are some numbers written in standard format
and in scientific notation.
Number in
Standard Format Scientific Notation
Diameter of the Earth 12 800 000 m 1.28 x 107 m
Mass of a human 68 kg 6.8 x 101 kg
Length of a virus 0.000 03 cm 3 x 10-5 cm
Learning Check
Select the correct scientific notation for each.
A. 0.000 000 08 m
1) 8 x 108 m 2) 8 x 10-8 m 3) 0.8 x 10-7 m

B. 72 000 L
1) 7.2 x 104 L 2) 72 x 103 L 3) 7.2 x 10-4
Solution
Select the correct scientific notation for each.
A. 0.000 000 08 m
2) 8 x 10-8 m

B. 72 000 L
1) 7.2 x 104 L
Learning Check
Write each as a standard number.
A. 2.0 x 10-2 s
1) 200 s 2) 0.0020 s 3) 0.020 s

B. 1.8 x 105 g
1) 180 000 g 2) 0.000 018 g 3) 18 000 g
Solution
Write each as a standard number.
A. 2.0 x 10-2 s
3) 0.020 s

B. 1.8 x 105 g
1) 180 000 g