0.800 m has three significant digits QUESTION: How should the result of the following calculation be reported? (0.800 m) / (0.010 s) A. 80 m/s, B. 80.0 m/s, C. 8.0x101 m/s, D. 8x101 m/s Rule for multiplication or division: express answer to as many significant figures as the term with the fewest number of significant figures. 0.800 m has three significant digits 0.010 s has two significant digits (fewer) Therefore express answer to 2 significant digits: 8.0 x 101 m/s SCRIPT 1A-4-1 How should the result of the following calculation be reported? Zero point eight zero zero meters Divided by… Zero point zero one zero seconds Should it be reported as 80 meters per second… Eighty point zero meters per second… Eight point zero times ten to the one meters per second Or Eight times ten to the one meters per second CLICK When multiplying or dividing numbers with significant figures, the rule is to express the answer to as many significant figures as the term with the fewest significant figures. Let’s examine the terms given here…. Zero point eight zero zero meters has three significant digits. Zero point zero one zero seconds has two significant digits Two is less than three. Therefore, the answer should be expressed to only two significant digits. The correct answer is 8.0 times ten to the one meters per second, which has two significant digits --- eight and zero Eighty meters per second has only one significant digit ---- eight. Eighty point zero zero has three significant digits --- eight, zero, and zero Eight times ten to the one has only one significant digit --- eight. PAUSE 2 seconds END RECORDING

Video ID: 1A-4-2 © 2008, Project VALUE (Video Assessment Library for Undergraduate Education), Department of Physical Sciences Nicholls State University Author: Glenn V. Lo Funded by Louisiana Board of Regents Contract No. LA-DL-SELECT-13-07/08