Significant Figures(SF) Rules

Precision

        Degree of exactness to which a measurement can be reproduced

        Limited by the finest division on its scale

Accuracy

        Agreement of a particular value with the true value

Significant Figures (SF)

There are 5 rules about significant figures:

1.     Non-zero digits are always significant.

Eg. 1285- 4SF

2.     Zeros between two non- zero numbers are significant.

Eg. 809- 3SF

3.     Zeros at the beginning of a number are never significant.

Eg. 0.02- 1SF

4.     Zeros that fall at the end of a number and after the decimal point are always significant.

Eg.6.100- 4SF

5.     Zeros at the end are Ambiguous, they are not considered significant unless there is a decimal that follows it.

Eg. 600-1SF

Eg. 320.- 3SF