Significant Figure

and Scientific Notations

2nd SEMESTER/3rd QUARTER/WEEK2
Overview
When making a measurement, there is a limit to the accuracy of the reported value. Both the
reporter and the reader must follow the conventions of significant figures when handling
measured quantities. There are simple rules which are used to tell how many significant
figures are contained in a value.

Parts of Scientific Notation

 Significant Figures
A digit in a measurement that indicate the precision of the measurement. These figures include all
those that are known with certainly plus one more which is an estimate.

Rules on Determining the Number of Significant Figures

1. All non-zero digits are significant

2. All zeroes between non-zero digits are significant

3. Zeroes to the right of a nonzero digit but to the left of an understood decimal point, are not
significant unless specifically indicated as significant by a bar placed above the rightmost such
zero that is significant.

4. All zeros to the right of a decimal point but to the left of a nonzero digit are not significant.

5. All zeros to the right of a decimal point and to the right of a nonzero digit are significant.

6. Trailing zeroes in a whole number with a decimal point shown are significant. (NOTE: It is
improper to report numbers in this fashion. Some ascribe to the system that a decimal point implies
all zeroes following the non-zeroes are significant)
Scientific Notation

Scientific notation (also called exponential notation) is the way

that scientists easily handle very large numbers or very small
numbers. For example, instead of writing 0.0000000056, we
write 5.6 x 10^-9. Scientific notation has three parts to it: the
coefficient, the base, and the exponent.

NOTES:
• The coefficient must be greater than 1
and less than 10 and contain all the
significant (non-zero) digits in the number
or mantissa.
• The base is always 10.
• The exponent is the number of places the
decimal was moved to obtain the
coefficient.
Parts of Scientific Notation
• Sign is indicated if necessary.
RULES:

1. All numbers must be ≥ 1 and ≤ (or 1 – 9, or the first significant digit in a number)

2. All exponents on the X10^n must be whole numbers.

3. The exponent on the X10^n must be equal to the number of places you move the decimal point to satisfy Rule #1.