PPT Slide

Rules for Determining Which Digits are Significant

All digits are significant

• Make sure that the measured quantity has a decimal point.

• Start at the left of the number and move right until you reach the first nonzero digit.

• Count that digit and every digit to its right as significant.

Zeros that end a number and lie either after or before the

decimal point are significant; thus 1.030 mL has four

significant figures, and 5300. L has four significant figures

also. Numbers such as 5300 L are assumed to only have 2

significant figures. A terminal decimal point is often used to

clarify the situation, but scientific notation is the best!

except zeros that are used only to

position the decimal point.

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