SIGNIFICANT FIGURES (SIG FIGS) - an attempt to report your results HONESTLY, showing how good or bad your equipment was. SIGNIFICANT FIGURES (SIG FIGS) - an attempt to report your results HONESTLY, showing how good or bad your equipment was.

SIGNIFICANT FIGURES (SIG FIGS) Have to do with MEASUREMENTS, not counted numbers. Always report as many digits as your instrument allows, plus ? SIGNIFICANT FIGURES (SIG FIGS) Have to do with MEASUREMENTS, not counted numbers. Always report as many digits as your instrument allows, plus ?

SIGNIFICANT FIGURES (SIG FIGS) Have to do with MEASUREMENTS, not counted numbers. Always report as many digits as your instrument allows, plus one ESTIMATED digit.

MEASURED QUANTITIES AND SIG FIGS Any number that is NOT a zero is always significant.

How about numbers that are NOT NOT a zero? (That is, they ARE zeroes?) MEASURED QUANTITIES AND SIG FIGS

Zeroes to the LEFT of the first nonzero digit, Zeroes in between nonzero digits, and Zeroes to the RIGHT of the last nonzero digit. Zeroes to the LEFT of the first nonzero digit, Zeroes in between nonzero digits, and Zeroes to the RIGHT of the last nonzero digit. THREE POSSIBILITIES FOR ZEROES:

Zeroes to the LEFT of the first nonzero digit (leading zeroes, e.g., 0.14 or ): These are only placeholders which we use instead of scientific notation. They are NEVER significant. Zeroes to the LEFT of the first nonzero digit (leading zeroes, e.g., 0.14 or ): These are only placeholders which we use instead of scientific notation. They are NEVER significant.

Zeroes BETWEEN nonzero digits (e.g., 504 or ): These are measured quantities. They are ALWAYS significant. Zeroes BETWEEN nonzero digits (e.g., 504 or ): These are measured quantities. They are ALWAYS significant.

How about zeroes to the RIGHT of the last nonzero digit (trailing zeroes, e.g., 1000 or )? Maybe or maybe not significant. It depends on… How about zeroes to the RIGHT of the last nonzero digit (trailing zeroes, e.g., 1000 or )? Maybe or maybe not significant. It depends on…

How about zeroes to the RIGHT of the last nonzero digit (trailing zeroes, e.g., 1000 or )? Maybe or maybe not significant. It depends on whether there is a decimal point ANYWHERE. How about zeroes to the RIGHT of the last nonzero digit (trailing zeroes, e.g., 1000 or )? Maybe or maybe not significant. It depends on whether there is a decimal point ANYWHERE.

TRAILING ZEROES: No decimal point: NOT significant = one sig fig. If there is a decimal point ANYWHERE, they ARE significant = seven sig figs. TRAILING ZEROES: No decimal point: NOT significant = one sig fig. If there is a decimal point ANYWHERE, they ARE significant = seven sig figs.

HOW MANY SIG FIGS? = ? = ? = ? = ? = ? 5 x = ? x 10 3 = ? HOW MANY SIG FIGS? = ? = ? = ? = ? = ? 5 x = ? x 10 3 = ?