Uncertainty in Measurement

Question 1

Exact/inexact numbers

Answer 1

values are known exactly; uncertain values

Question 2

The proximity of a measurement to the true value of a quantity

Answer 2

accuracy

Question 3

The proximity of several measurements to each other

Answer 3

precision

Question 4

Digits that are measured

Answer 4

significant figures

Question 5

The four rules for significant figures

Answer 5

1. all nonzero digits are significant
2. zeroes between two significant figures are significant
3. zeroes at the beginning of a # are never significant
4. zeroes at the end of a # are significant if a decimal point is written