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Significant Figures

Significant Figures. So Many Numbers. How many places do you carry out? What do we round to? These are no longer acceptable questions for the science classroom!!!. What numbers are important?. Sig Figs are used in science because of measurement Numbers must be: Meaningful Accurate

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Significant Figures

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  1. Significant Figures

  2. So Many Numbers • How many places do you carry out? • What do we round to? • These are no longer acceptable questions for the science classroom!!!

  3. What numbers are important? • Sig Figs are used in science because of measurement • Numbers must be: • Meaningful • Accurate • Be confident in the numbers you use • Measurement tools help identify sig figs

  4. Rules to Follow • Non-zero digits are always significant • Any zeros between two significant digits are significant • A final zero or trailing zeros in the decimal portion ONLY are significant

  5. A Few Examples • 34.84

  6. A Few Examples • 34.84 (4 sig figs) • 3001

  7. A Few Examples • 34.84 (4 sig figs) • 3001 (4 sig figs) • 100.00

  8. A Few Examples • 34.84 (4 sig figs) • 3001 (4 sig figs) • 100.00 (5 sig figs) • 497,000,000

  9. A Few Examples • 34.84 (4 sig figs) • 3001 (4 sig figs) • 100.00 (5 sig figs) • 497,000,000 (3 sig figs) • 405.00750

  10. A Few Examples • 34.84 (4 sig figs) • 3001 (4 sig figs) • 100.00 (5 sig figs) • 497,000,000 (3 sig figs) • 405.00750 (8 sig figs)

  11. Non-contributing Zeros • Some zeros are not meaningful, accurate, or important • They are simply placeholders and are not significant figures

  12. Insignificant Zeros • Space holding zeros on numbers less than one • 0.02750 • 0.00004 • 0.008035

  13. Meaningless Zeros • The zero to the left of the decimal place on numbers less than one • 0.005 • 0.9867 • 00.004208

  14. Loser zeros • Trailing zeros in a whole number • 200 • 540 • 10,000

  15. Pointless Zeros • Leading zeros in a whole number • 00365 • 004.0 x 10-6 • 00250

  16. Adding and Subtracting • Determine which number has the fewest significant figures • Your answer can only have the significant figures equal to the fewest sig figs in a problem • Only as strong (confident) as the weakest link

  17. Adding and Subtracting • 2.97 + 0.11 = • 0.4006 + 35.1 = • 7.2398 + 0.01 =

  18. Multiplying and Dividing • Determine which number has the fewest significant figures • Your answer can only have the significant figures equal to the fewest sig figs in a problem • Only as strong (confident) as the weakest link

  19. Multiplying and Dividing • 5.4 x 3.75 = • .0027 x 87.21 = • 21 x 3 =

  20. Why Sig Figs? • Measurement and accuracy of our tools • Replication • Confidence • Meaningful

  21. You are now Sig Fig experts!

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