Significant figures (sig figs) indicate the precision of a measurement. Reporting too many digits implies false precision; too few wastes information.
Counting Rules
- Non-zero digits are always significant
- Zeros between non-zero digits count (1002 has 4 sig figs)
- Leading zeros never count (0.0045 has 2 sig figs)
- Trailing zeros after a decimal count (3.50 has 3 sig figs)
Practice with the Significant Figures Calculator.
Operations
Addition/subtraction: round to least decimal places. Multiplication/division: round to fewest sig figs.
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