Significant figure of Digits

The significant figures (SF) in a measurement are the figures or

digits that are known with certainity plus one that is uncertain.

Significant figures in a measured value of a physical quantity

tell the number of digits in which we have confidence.

Larger the number of significant figures obtained in a

measurement, greater is its precision and vice-versa.
Rules to find out the number of significant figures

Rule 1
All the non-zero digits are significant.

Example
1984 has 4 SF.

Rule 2
All the zeros between two non-zero digits are significant.

Example
10806 has 5 SF.
 Rule 3
All the zeros to the left of first non-zero digit are not significant.

Example
00108 has 3 SF.

Rule 4

If the number is less than 1, zeros on the right of the decimal point
but to the left of the first non-zero digit are not significant.

Example
0.002308 has 4 SF.
 Rule 5
The trailing zeros (zeros to the right of the last non-zero digit) in a
number with a decimal point are significant.

Example
01.080 has 4 SF.

Rule 6

The trailing zeros in a number without a decimal point are not

significant e.g. 010100 has 3 SF. But if the number comes from some
actual measurement then the trailing zeros become significant.
Example
m = 100 kg has 3 SF.
 Rule 7
When the number is expressed in exponential form, the exponential
term does not affect the number of S.F.

Example
Let x = 12.3 = 1.23 × 101 = .123 × 102 = 0.0123 × 103 = 123 × 10–1
each term has 3 SF only.
 Rules for arithmetical operations with significant figures

Rule 1

In addition or subtraction the number of decimal places in the

result should be equal to the number of decimal places of that term
in the operation which contain lesser number of decimal places.

Example
12.587 – 12.5 = 0.087 = 0.1 (Q second term contain lesser i.e. one
decimal place)
 Rule 2
In multiplication or division, the number of SF in the product or
quotient is same as the smallest number of SF in any of the factors.

Example
5.0 × 0.125 = 0.625 = 0.62
Example
Write down the number of significant figures in the following.
(a) 189 (b) 7.09 (c) 95.000 g

Solution

Ans:(a) 3, (b) 3, (c) 5

Example
Write down the number of significant figures in the following.
(d) 0.008 (e) 0.07340 (f) 12300

Solution

Ans:(d) 1, (e) 4, (f) 3

 Accuracy and precision

Every measurement is limited by the reliability of the measuring

instrument and skill of the person using the measurement.

If we repeat a particular measurement we usually do not get

precisely the same result as each result is subject to some
experimental error.

This Accuracy
imperfection in
measurement
can be
described in
two ways Precision
Accuracy

It refers to the closeness of a measurement to the true value

of the physical quantity.

It indicates the relative freedom from errors. As we reduce the

errors, the measurement becomes more accurate.
Precision

It refers to the resolution or the limit to which the quantity is

measured.

Precision is determined by the least count of the measuring

instrument. The smaller the least count, greater is the precision.

If we repeat a particular measurement of a quantity a number

of times, then the precision refers to the closeness of the set
of values so obtained.
Precise But Not Accurate Accurate But Not Precise
Neither Precise Nor Accurate Precise and Accurate
Suppose three boys are asked to find the mass of a
piece of stone whose mass is known to be 0.520 g.
They obtain the data given in Table.
Average
Student Measurement 1 Measurement 2 Measurement 3
mass
A 0.52 g 0.51 g 0.50 g 0.51 g
B 0.516 g 0.515 g 0.514 g 0.515 g
C 0.521 g 0.520 g 0.520 g 0.520 g

Student A
The data is neither very precise nor accurate, the individual values
differ widely and also the average value is not accurate.
 Average
Student Measurement 1 Measurement 2 Measurement 3
mass
A 0.52 g 0.51 g 0.50 g 0.51 g
B 0.516 g 0.515 g 0.514 g 0.515 g
C 0.521 g 0.520 g 0.520 g 0.520 g
Student B
The data is more precise, as they vary slightly from one another
but the average mass is not accurate.
Student C
The data is both precise and accurate.

The resolution for A is 0.01 g and that for B

or C is 0.001 g.
HOME WORK
A

𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 - 1

Find Number of significant digits in following-

(i) 0.0028900
(ii) 1559.00
(iii) 25.33600

𝐀𝐧𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐫 – (i) 5 (ii) 6 (iii) 7

A

𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 - 2

In an experiment, it is found that the experimental value is very

close to actual value, hence the experimental value can be called
_____
1. Accurate
2. Precise
3. Suitable
4. Mean

𝐀𝐧𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐫 – 1
A

𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 - 3

In 5 experiments with the same objective , the values are

obtained are very near to each other. These values can be called-
1. Precise
2. Accurate
3. Average
4. Invalid

𝐀𝐧𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐫 – 1
 Rounding Off
Rule 1
If the digit to be dropped is less than 5, then the preceding digit is
left unchanged.

Example x = 7.82 is rounded off to 7.8

x = 3.94 is rounded off to 3.9

Rule 2
If the digit to be dropped is more than 5, then the preceding digit is
raised by one.

Example x = 6.87 is rounded off to 6.9

x = 12.78 is rounded off to 12.8
 Rule 3
If the digit to be dropped is 5 followed by digits other than zero,
then the preceding digit is raised by one.

Example x = 16.351 is rounded off to 16.4

x = 6.758 is rounded off to 6.8

Rule 4
If digit to be dropped is 5 or 5 followed by zeros, then preceding
digit is left uncharged, if it is even.

Example x = 3.250 becomes 3.2 on rounding off

x = 12.650 becomes 12.6 on rounding off
 Rule 5
If digit to be dropped is 5 or 5 followed by zeros, then the preceding
digit is raised by one, if it is odd.

Example x = 3.750 is rounded off to 3.8

x = 16.150 is rounded off to 16.2
Example
The following values can be rounded off to four significant figures
as follows :
(a) 36.879 (b) 1.0084 (c) 11.115

Solution

Ans:(a) 36.88, (b) 1.008, (c) 11.12

Example
The following values can be rounded off to four significant figures
as follows :
(d) 11.1250 (e) 11.1251

Solution

Ans:(d) 11.12 (e) 11.13

 Order of Magnitude

Order of magnitude of a quantity is the power of 10 required

to represent that quantity.

This power is determined after rounding off the value of the

quantity properly.

For rounding off, the last digit is simply ignored if it is less

than 5 and, is increased by one if it is 5 or more than 5.
 Note
When a number is divided
by 10x
(where x is the order of the
number)
the result will always lie
between 0.5 and 5
i.e. 0.5 ≤ N/10x < 5
Example
Determine the order of magnitude of the following values:
(a) 49 (b) 51 (c) 0.049

Solution

Ans: (a) 1, (b) 2, (c) -2

Example
Determine the order of magnitude of the following values:
(d) 0.050 (e) 0.051

Solution

Ans: (d) -1, (e) -1

Example
A cube has a side of length 1.2 × 10–2 m. Calculate its volume
03 (using significant figures)
(1) 1.7 × 10–6 m3 (2) 1.73 × 10–6 m3

(3) 1.70 × 10–6 m3 (4) 1.732 × 10–6m3

Solution

Ans : (1)
Example
Length of a rod has been measured 8.72 m, it is round off to :
04
(1) 8.6 (2) 8.7

(3) 8.8 (4) 8.5

Solution

Ans : (2)
Example
Height of a person measured to be 4.750 feet ; on rounding off ;
05 it becomes :
(1) 4.56 (2) 5.0

(3) 4.7 (4) 4.8

Solution

Ans : (4)
HOME WORK
A

𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 - 1

The length of a cube is 2.3 cm. What is its volume rounded off to
4 significant digits in cm3?

𝐀𝐧𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐫 – 12.17
A

𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 - 2

What is the volume of a box, 10 m wide, 4.5m, long and 2.3 m

high up to 3 significant digits in m3 ?

𝐀𝐧𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐫 – 104