Significant Figures (1.3.4) Flashcards
• The amount of uncertainty in a measurement must always be taken into account when carrying out calculations.
• The amount of uncertainty in a measurement must always be taken into account when carrying out calculations.
• There are rules that indicate which zeros are significant and which zeros are not significant.
• There are rules that indicate which zeros are significant and which zeros are not significant.
• The number of significant figures to keep when adding or subtracting is determined by the number with the fewest digits after the decimal place.
• The number of significant figures to keep when adding or subtracting is determined by the number with the fewest digits after the decimal place.
• The number of significant figures to keep when multiplying or dividing is determined by the factor with the fewest significant figures.
• The number of significant figures to keep when multiplying or dividing is determined by the factor with the fewest significant figures.
Precision
The amount of uncertainty in a measurement must
always be taken into account when carrying out
calculations. For example, saying that the flow rate
at Niagara Falls is 567,810 L/s implies that the flow
rate is known to the nearest 10 liters, when it is
actually only known to about the nearest 10,000
gallons. Significant figures reflect the precision of
a measured quantity.
There are rules that indicate which zeros are
significant and which zeros are not significant.
These rules are important for determining the
number of significant figures in a measurement.
For numbers without a decimal point, trailing zeros
may or may not be significant. For example, 1000
could have one or four significant figures. For
clarity, this is sometimes written 1000. to indicate
that all four digits are significant.
There are rules that indicate which zeros are
significant and which zeros are not significant.
These rules are important for determining the
number of significant figures in a measurement.
For numbers without a decimal point, trailing zeros
may or may not be significant. For example, 1000
could have one or four significant figures. For
clarity, this is sometimes written 1000. to indicate
that all four digits are significant.
The number of significant figures to keep when
adding or subtracting is determined by the number
with the fewest digits after the decimal place.
The number of significant figures to keep when
adding or subtracting is determined by the number
with the fewest digits after the decimal place.
The number of significant figures to keep when
multiplying or dividing is determined by the factor
with the fewest significant figures.
The number of significant figures to keep when
multiplying or dividing is determined by the factor
with the fewest significant figures.