significant figures

Question 1

Precision

Answer 1

• how detailed a measurement we can get
• as small a unit, as many significant digits or

decimal places as possible

Question 2

Accuracy

Answer 2

how closely experimental results agree with a

‘true” or “accepted” value

(quality or correctness of result)

Question 3

Uncertainty

Answer 3

• range of values for a measurement which are likely

to enclose “true” value

Question 4

Reliability

Answer 4

• how easy measurement is to replicate

do again with same result

Question 5

Name 5 sig fig rules (not referring to operations)

Answer 5

• All non-zero digits in a measurement are significant
• Zeros that appear before a significant digit are not significant
• Zeros between two other significant digits are significant
• Zeros to the right of a significant digit with a decimal in the measurement are significant
• Zeros to the right of a significant digit with no decimal in the measurement don’t count

Question 6

Name rules for adding & subtracting

Answer 6

answer can only have as many decimal places as

number with fewest (whole numbers, least precise place value used)

Question 7

Name rules for dividing & multiplying

Answer 7

answer can only have as many sig figs as number with fewest decimal places