| RULES |
(Significant
figures are the figures in red) |
| Rule 1. All nonzero
integers are significant. |
eg - 456 cm |
456
cm
has 3 significant figures
|
| Rule 2. All zeros to the
left of the first nonzero digit are not significant since they are used
to locate the decimal point. |
eg - 0.00567 kg |
0.00567
kg
has 3 significant figures
|
| Rule 3. All zeros between nonzero digits
are significant. |
eg 1 - 207.08 cm |
207.08 cm
has 5 significant figures |
| |
eg 2 - 0.0401 L |
0.0401 L
has 3 significant figures |
| Rule 4. All zeros at the end of a number
that has a decimal point are significant. |
eg 1 - 34.070 mg
|
34.070 mg
has 5 significant figures
|
| |
eg 2 - 0.0670 g |
0.0670 g
has 3 significant figures |
| |
eg 3 - 400. mm |
400. mm
has 3 significant figures |
| Rule 5. Zeros at the
end of a whole number that has no decimal point
is confusing since they may or may not be
significant. |
eg - 300 L |
???????
The measurement, "300 L", as written is confusing. |
