Significant Figures

True/Accepted Value:
21.00 cm
Group 1 Group 2 Group 3
21.00 cm 21.00 cm 17.50 cm
21.01 cm 22.00 cm 17.52 cm
21.00 cm 18.00 cm 17.48 cm
21.02 cm 23.00 cm 17.45 cm
20.98 cm 21.00 cm 17.51 cm
Avg 21.00 cm 21.00 cm 17.49 cm
Accurate and Accurate Precise
precise not precise not accurate
 Significant Figures

 The digits in a measurement that are

known with certainty plus the first
estimated digit.
Determining the # of Sig. Figs
1. All non-zero digits ARE significant.
Ex) 345.26 g 5 sig figs

2. Zeros before non-zero digits are NOT

significant
Ex) 0.00023 2 sig figs
3. Zeros between significant figures ARE
significant
Ex) 108 mm 3 sig figs

4. Zeros after non-zero digits AND after the

decimal ARE significant
Ex) 18,1.00 mm 5 sig figs
Zeros after non-zero digits but before the
decimal are NOT significant
Ex) 1200 2 sig figs
1. Scientific Notation:
1.810 x 104 mm 4 sig
figs

2. Bar above the significant zero:

18,100 4 sig figs

 Sig Fig Examples – state how
many each # has
1. 82 2
2. 408.3 4
3. 9706.2 5
4. 0.00060085 5
5. 3.80600 6
6. 8.42 3
7. 0.0100200 6
8. 900086.003 9
9. 234860 5
10. 25000 2
11. 1.26 x 10-5 3
12. 3.8 x 1020 2
13. 4.6583 x 10-7 5
14. 8.9620 x 104 5
15. 1.00004 x 10-24 6
16. 0.000125000 6
17. 0.123 3
18. 5900 2
19. 40010 4
20. 0.01010101 7
 Rules for Sig Fig Calculations
 Multiplication and Division
The number of significant figures in the
answer is the same as the number with the
lowest number of sig figs in the problem.
Ex) 65.01m x 3.4m = 221. 034m2 (calc)
4 sf 2sf 2sf

If you cross off a #

in front of the 221.034m2
decimal replace it
with a zero 220 m2
 Rules for Sig Fig Calculations
 Addition and Subtraction
The answer has the same number of
places to the right of the decimal as the
number in the problem with the smallest
number of digits to the right of the decimal.
Ex) 65.01g + 3.4 g = 68.41g (calc)
2 places 1 place 1 place

68.4g