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Question
Write the rules for determining significant figures.
Solution
(1) All non-zero digits are significant.
Example: 1342 has 4 significant figures
(2) All zeros between two non-zero digits are significant.
Example: 2008 has four significant figures
(3) All zeros to the right of non-zero digit but to the left of the decimal point are significant.
Example: 3070.00 has 4 significant figures.
(4) The trailing zeros are not significant, ie in the number without a decimal point. All zeros are significant if they come from the measurement.
Example: 4000 has one significant figure.
(5) If a number is less than 1, the zero (s) on the right of the decimal point but to the left of the first non-zero digit are not significant.
Example: 0.0034 has 2 significant figures.
(6) All zeros to the right of the decimal point and to the right of non-zero digits are significant.
Example: 40.00 has four significant figures.
(7) The number of significant figures does not depend on the system of units used.
Example: 1.53cm, 0.0150cm, 0.0000153 Km all have three significant figures.
(8) The power of 10 is irrelevant to the determination of significant figures.
Example: 5.7 x 102 cm has two significant figures.
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