1. How big is the beetle? Measure between the head and the tail!
Between 1.5 and 1.6 in
Measured length: 1.54 in
The 1 and 5 are known with certainty
The last digit (4) is estimated between the two nearest fine division marks.
Copyright © by Fred Senese

2. Uncertainty in measurements
A digit that must be estimated in a measurement is called uncertain.
A measurement always has some degree of uncertainty. It is dependent on the precision of the measuring device.

3. Significant Figures
In science, measured values are reported in terms of significant figures.
Significant figures in a measurement consist of all the digits known with certainty plus one final digit, which is uncertain or is estimated.
The term significant does not mean certain.
Insignificant digits are never reported.

4. 6.35 What value should be recorded for the length of this nail?
Uncertain or estimated number
but significant.

5. Rules for Counting Significant Figures
1. Nonzero integers always count as significant figures.
3456 has 4 sig figs (significant figures).
2. There are three classes of zeros.
a. Leading zeros are zeros that precede all the nonzero digits. These do not count as significant figures.
0.048 has 2 sig figs.

6. Rules for Counting Significant Figures
Classes of zeros.
b. Captive zeros are zeros between nonzero digits. These always count as significant figures.
16.07 has 4 sig figs.
c. Trailing zeros are zeros at the right end of the number. They are significant only if the number contains a decimal point.
9.300 has 4 sig figs.
150 has 2 sig figs.
120. has 3 sig figs.

7. Rules for Counting Significant Figures
3. Exact numbers have an infinite number of significant figures.
1 inch = 2.54 cm, exactly.
9 pencils (obtained by counting).

8. Sample Problem
How many significant figures are in each of the following measurements?
a g 3 sig figs, no zeros, all digits are significant
b cm 4 sig figs, zero significant, followed by a decimal point
c. 910 m sig figs, the zero is not significant, no decimal point
d L 4 sig figs, the first two zeros are not significant; the third zero is significant.
e kg 5 sig figs, the first three zeros are not significant; the last three zeros are significant.

9. Significant Figures in Mathematical Operations
For multiplication or division, the number of significant figures in the result is the same as the number in the least precise measurement used in the calculation.
1.342 × 5.5 =  7.4
2 sig figures
2 sig figures

10. Rounding
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11. Significant Figures in Mathematical Operations
2. For addition or subtraction, the result has the same number of decimal places as the least precise measurement used in the calculation.

12. CONCEPT CHECK!
You have water in each graduated cylinder shown. You then add both samples to a beaker (assume that all of the liquid is transferred).
How would you write the number describing the total volume?
= 3.1 mL
What limits the precision of the total volume?
The total volume is 3.1 mL. The first graduated cylinder limits the precision of the total volume with a volume of 2.8 mL. The second graduated cylinder has a volume of 0.28 mL. Therefore, the final volume must be 3.1 mL since the first volume is limited to the tenths place.

13. Exponential Notation Example 300. written as 3.00 × 102
Contains three significant figures.
Two Advantages
Number of significant figures can be easily indicated.
Fewer zeros are needed to write a very large or very small number.