Measured Numbers and Significant Figures

What is a significant figure?

If there is no 0 or a zero at the end of a decimal number
When is a number not significant?

if a zero is at the beginning of a decimal or without a decimal point
If the length is reported as 2.76cm, is this number significant or not significant?

All 3 digits are significant including the estimated digit (6).
-|8 . . . . | . . . . |9 . . . . | . . . . |10 . .
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What is the length of the star line?
1) 9.0 cm
2) 9.04 cm
3) 9.05 cm
- Answer: 9.04 cm or 9.05 cm
- - Estimated digit may be slightly different. Both readings are acceptable
How do you read a meterstick?
-|2 . . . . | . . . . |3 . . . . | . . . .
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- The first digit is 2
- plus the second digit 2.7
- The last digit is obtained by estimation (could be 2.75 cm or 2.76 cm)

Author

Mon

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Card Set

Measured Numbers and Significant Figures

Description

Chemistry Measured Numbers & Significant Figures

Updated

2011-02-16T06:43:53Z

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