8/6/2018 Accuracy in Measurement - MathBitsNotebook(A1 - CCSS Math)

Significant Figures and Accuracy

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The concept of significant figures (or digits) is a convention for expressing the accuracy
of a measurement.

When working with real-world data, it is crucial that every measured value be as accurate as possible.
Attempts must be made to minimize uncertainty when expressing measurements. To accomplish this task,
certain rules are followed by scientists and engineers to maintain a level of accuracy and to communicate
this level with other individuals.

The Rules for Significant Figures:

1) All nonzero numbers (1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9) are significant.
56 has 2 significant figures.
3,456,789 has 7 significant figures.

2) All zeroes between non-zero numbers are significant.

306 has 3 significant figures.
10.05 has 4 significant figures.

3) All zeroes which are both to the right of the decimal point AND to the right of all non-zero
numbers are significant.
300.0 has 4 significant figures.
24.300 has 5 significant figures.
1200 has 2 significant figures.
0.025 has 2 significant figures.

Confused??
5000 ft. This number is read as being accurate to the thousands place. Without a
decimal point, we don't know if this number was exactly 5000 feet, or if it
was rounded up or rounded down to this value (or to which place-value it
was rounded - ones, tens, hundreds, etc.). It has 1 significant figure.
5000. ft. The decimal point indicates that this number is accurate to the units place.
The measurement was 5000 feet to the nearest foot. It has 4 significant
figures.
5000.0 ft. The decimal point indicates that this number is accurate to the tenths place.
The measurement was 5000 feet to the nearest tenth of a foot. It has 5
significant figures.

Arithmetic with Significant Figures:

*** You cannot improve the accuracy by doing arithmetic with measurements.

ADDITION/SUBTRACTION:
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8/6/2018 Accuracy in Measurement - MathBitsNotebook(A1 - CCSS Math)

Add (or subtract) the numbers and round the

result to the same decimal place as the least-
accurate number.

The least-accurate number in this sum is 14.5,

showing one decimal place. The answer must
be rounded to one decimal place.

MULTIPLYING/DIVIDING:

Multiply (or divide) the numbers and round the

answer to the same number of signficant digits
as the least-accurate number.
The least-accurate number in this product is
5.9 which has 2 significant digits. The answer
must be rounded to 2 significant digits.

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