Significant Figures Essay

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The number of significant figures in the final answer is determined by the measured quantity with the least number of significant digits. The distinction between measured and exact numbers is important because it is often necessary to use both measured and exact values in calculations. When performing calculations it is important to round only the final answer to the correct number of significant figures to avoid rounding errors. Digits are significant if: they are nonzero digits (1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 or 9). a they are zeros between nonzero numbers. b they are zeros to the right of the decimal point AND at the end of the number. c,d,g they are zeros to the left of a written decimal point and right of a nonzero number. e,f Number Significant Figures a 5.2357 5 b 5.0057 5 c 25.00 4 d 5.2350 5 e 500 1 f 500. 3 g 500.0 4 Examples Suppose you are presented with a problem where you need to calculate the area of a small rectangle. The measuring instrument (ruler) is graduated in centimeters and millimeters the precision being 1 millimeter. The measured length of the rectangle falls approximately halfway between 12.2 and 12.3 centimeters; you estimate the value to be 12.25 centimeters and record the measurement. The measured width of the rectangle falls approximately halfway between 3.2 and 3.3 centimeters; you estimate the value to be 3.25 centimeters and record the measurement. Next it’s a simple matter of multiplication to determine the area of the rectangle. 12.25 cm x 3.25 cm = 39.8125 cm2 In each measurement the last digit represents the uncertainty or the estimate; remember the ruler was graduated in millimeters, the 5 was simply an estimate of the distance between the .2 and .3 graduations. The 5 was chosen because you interpreted the distance to be halfway between the 2 however another individual taking the same measurements may have interpreted the

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