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3. Calculating with Significant Figures. Ex: Calculate the volume of a wooden block with the following dimensions: Length (L): 4.55 cm Width (W): 9.10 cm Height (H): 2.54 cm L x W x H = 105.1687 cm 3 Why does this not make sense???.
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3. Calculating with Significant Figures Ex: Calculate the volume of a wooden block with the following dimensions: Length (L): 4.55 cm Width (W): 9.10 cm Height (H): 2.54 cm L x W x H = 105.1687 cm3 Why does this not make sense???
The answer claims to be more accurate than the original measurement accuracy.
Significant figures – the digits in a measurement that are expressed as its value. (“Sig Figs”) First we must know how to count significant figures in a given number.
Rules for counting significant figures All nonzero digits are significant (ie, numbers 1 through 9 are ALWAYS significant) Ex: 14,567 5 SF Ex: 3245 4 SF
Zeros – there are three cases. Case 1: Leading Zeros Zeros that precede all non-zero digits NEVER count as significant figures. They are only placeholders Ex: 0.0025 2 SF (2 &5) Ex: 0.0005 1 SF (5)
Case 2: Captive zeros Any zeros that fall between nonzero digits ALWAYS count as significant figures. Ex: 1.008 4 SF Ex: 40, 005 5 SF
Case 3: Trailing zeros Zeros to the right end of the number are significant ONLY if the number contains a decimal point (yessy to Deci) Ex: 1200 2 SF Ex: 1200. 4 SF Ex: 1200.0 5 SF
Ex: 0.023 2 SF Ex: 0.0230 3 SF (2, 3 and trailing 0) Notice the decimal does not have to be near the trailing zero