LESSON DISCUSSION
SIGNIFICANT FIGURES
I. Introduction
In science, measurements are never completely exact. Every measuring instrument
has a limit to how precisely it can measure.
For example, if a ruler measures the length of a pencil as:
[
15.2\text{ cm}
]
the digits 1, 5, and 2 provide information about the measurement.
Scientists need a way to indicate which digits in a measurement are meaningful and
reliable. These meaningful digits are called significant figures.
Understanding significant figures is important when recording measurements,
performing calculations, and reporting scientific results.
II. What Are Significant Figures?
Significant figures, also called significant digits, are the digits in a
measurement that contribute to its precision.
For example:
[
25.4\text{ cm}
]
has 3 significant figures:
2
5
4
The number of significant figures tells us about the precision of a measurement.
Examples:
Measurem Number of Significant
ent Figures
5 1
25 2
3.14 3
12.50 4
0.0056 2
100.0 4
III. Why Are Significant Figures Important?
Significant figures help scientists communicate measurements accurately.
Suppose two students measure the same object.
Student A:
[
10\text{ cm}
]
Student B:
[
10.00\text{ cm}
]
These measurements have different precision.
10 cm has fewer indicated significant figures.
10.00 cm indicates a more precise measurement.
Therefore, significant figures provide information about the precision of a
measurement.
IV. Rules for Identifying Significant Figures
There are several important rules.
Rule 1: All nonzero digits are significant.
Any digit from 1 to 9 is significant.
Examples:
[
45
]
has 2 significant figures.
[
728
]
has 3 significant figures.
[
3.456
]
has 4 significant figures.
V. Rule 2: Zeros Between Nonzero Digits Are Significant
Zeros located between nonzero digits are significant.
Examples:
[
101
]
has 3 significant figures.
[
1,005
]
has 4 significant figures.
[
2.05
]
has 3 significant figures.
The zeros are significant because they are between nonzero digits.
VI. Rule 3: Leading Zeros Are Not Significant
Leading zeros are zeros that appear before the first nonzero digit.
They only show the position of the decimal point.
Example:
[
0.0045
]
The zeros before 4 are not significant.
Therefore:
[
0.0045
]
has 2 significant figures.
The significant digits are:
[
4,\ 5
]
Another example:
[
0.00072
]
has 2 significant figures.
VII. Rule 4: Zeros Between Nonzero Digits Are Significant
Consider:
[
3.07
]
The zero is between 3 and 7.
Therefore:
[
3.07
]
has 3 significant figures.
Another example:
[
5.008
]
has 4 significant figures.
VIII. Rule 5: Trailing Zeros After a Decimal Point Are Significant
Zeros at the end of a decimal number are significant.
Example:
[
4.50
]
has 3 significant figures.
The digits are:
4, 5, and 0.
Another example:
[
7.200
]
has 4 significant figures.
The trailing zeros show the precision of the measurement.
IX. Whole Numbers With Trailing Zeros
Trailing zeros in whole numbers can sometimes be ambiguous.
For example:
[
500
]
does not clearly indicate whether it has 1, 2, or 3 significant figures.
Scientific notation can make the intended precision clear.
Examples:
[
5\times10^2
]
has 1 significant figure.
[
5.0\times10^2
]
has 2 significant figures.
[
5.00\times10^2
]
has 3 significant figures.
This is one reason scientific notation is useful in science.
X. Counting Significant Figures
Determine the number of significant figures in each measurement.
Example 1
[
45.6
]
All digits are nonzero.
Therefore:
[
\boxed{3\text{ significant figures}}
]
Example 2
[
0.0038
]
The leading zeros are not significant.
Therefore:
[
\boxed{2\text{ significant figures}}
]
Example 3
[
2.050
]
All digits, including the zero between nonzero digits and the final zero after the
decimal, are significant.
Therefore:
[
\boxed{4\text{ significant figures}}
]
XI. Rounding Significant Figures
Sometimes a calculation produces more digits than are needed.
We can round the answer to the required number of significant figures.
Basic Rule:
Look at the digit immediately after the last significant figure you want.
If it is 5 or greater, round up.
If it is less than 5, keep the digit unchanged.
Example 1: Round to 3 Significant Figures
[
45.678
]
The first three significant figures are:
[
4,\ 5,\ 6
]
The next digit is:
[
7
]
Since 7 is greater than 5, round 6 up to 7.
Therefore:
[
\boxed{45.7}
]
Example 2: Round to 2 Significant Figures
[
3.142
]
The first two significant figures are:
[
3,\ 1
]
The next digit is 4.
Since 4 is less than 5, the 1 remains unchanged.
Therefore:
[
\boxed{3.1}
]
XII. Addition and Subtraction
For addition and subtraction, the answer should have the same number of decimal
places as the measurement with the fewest decimal places.
Example:
[
12.5+3.24=15.74
]
The first number has 1 decimal place.
Therefore, round the answer to 1 decimal place:
[
\boxed{15.7}
]
XIII. Multiplication and Division
For multiplication and division, the answer should have the same number of
significant figures as the measurement with the fewest significant figures.
Example:
[
4.5\times2.13
]
Calculate:
[
4.5\times2.13=9.585
]
4.5 has 2 significant figures.
2.13 has 3 significant figures.
Therefore, the answer should have 2 significant figures.
[
\boxed{9.6}
]
XIV. Real-Life Application 1: Measuring a Table
A student measures the length of a table as:
[
120.5\text{ cm}
]
How many significant figures are in the measurement?
Solution:
The digits are:
1, 2, 0, 5
The zero is between nonzero digits, so it is significant.
Therefore:
[
\boxed{4\text{ significant figures}}
]
Application:
When measuring furniture, construction materials, or laboratory equipment,
significant figures help communicate how precise the measurement is.
XV. Real-Life Application 2: Laboratory Measurement
A student measures 25.0 mL of water.
How many significant figures are present?
Solution:
The digits are:
2, 5, and 0.
The final zero is after the decimal point, so it is significant.
Therefore:
[
\boxed{3\text{ significant figures}}
]
The measurement indicates greater precision than simply writing:
[
25\text{ mL}
]
XVI. Real-Life Application 3: Scientific Calculation
A scientist measures the length of an object as 4.5 cm and its width as 2.1 cm.
Find the area.
Formula:
[
A=l\times w
]
Substitute:
[
A=(4.5)(2.1)
]
[
A=9.45\text{ cm}^2
]
Both measurements have 2 significant figures.
Therefore, round the answer to 2 significant figures:
[
\boxed{9.5\text{ cm}^2}
]
XVII. Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Counting all zeros as significant
For example:
[
0.0045
]
does not have 5 significant figures.
It has:
[
\boxed{2\text{ significant figures}}
]
Mistake 2: Ignoring zeros between nonzero digits
For example:
[
1.05
]
has 3 significant figures, not 2.
Mistake 3: Confusing decimal places with significant figures
For example:
[
12.50
]
has:
4 significant figures
2 decimal places
These are different concepts.
XVIII. Guided Practice
Determine the number of significant figures in each number.
1. (25)
2. (4.56)
3. (0.0045)
4. (100.5)
5. (7.00)
6. (0.00082)
7. (5.060)
8. (900)
9. (3.040)
10.(0.0500)
XIX. Rounding Practice
Round each number to the indicated number of significant figures.
1. (45.678) to 3 significant figures
2. (8.765) to 2 significant figures
3. (0.004567) to 2 significant figures
4. (125.67) to 4 significant figures
5. (9.8765) to 3 significant figures
XX. Application Problems
Problem 1
A laboratory technician measures 15.60 mL of a liquid. How many significant
figures does the measurement have?
Problem 2
A student measures a piece of wire as 0.00450 m. How many significant figures
does the measurement have?
Problem 3
A rectangular object has a length of 5.2 cm and a width of 3.4 cm. Find its area
and report the answer using the correct number of significant figures.
Problem 4
A scientist records two measurements:
[
12.5\text{ g}+3.24\text{ g}
]
Calculate the sum and report the answer using the correct number of decimal
places.
XXI. Answers
Guided Practice
1. 2 significant figures
2. 3 significant figures
3. 2 significant figures
4. 4 significant figures
5. 3 significant figures
6. 2 significant figures
7. 4 significant figures
8. Ambiguous unless more information is given
9. 4 significant figures
10.3 significant figures
Rounding Practice
1. (45.7)
2. (8.8)
3. (0.0046)
4. (125.7)
5. (9.88)
Application Problems
1. 4 significant figures
2. 3 significant figures
3.
[
A=5.2(3.4)=17.68
]
Both measurements have 2 significant figures.
[
\boxed{18\text{ cm}^2}
]
4.
[
12.5+3.24=15.74
]
The least precise measurement has 1 decimal place.
[
\boxed{15.7\text{ g}}
]
XXII. Summary
Significant figures are the meaningful digits in a measurement. They help scientists
communicate the precision of their measurements.
Remember:
Nonzero digits are always significant.
Zeros between nonzero digits are significant.
Leading zeros are not significant.
Trailing zeros after a decimal point are significant.
For addition and subtraction, consider decimal places.
For multiplication and division, consider significant figures.
When necessary, use scientific notation to clearly show the number of
significant figures.
Significant figures are important in laboratory work, medicine, engineering,
chemistry, physics, biology, and everyday measurement because accurate
reporting of measurements is essential in science.