Rules to determine significant figures
For determining number of significant figures, we use the following rules
Rule 1 All non-zero digits are significant, e.g. x = 2567 has four significant figures.
Rule 2 The zeros appearing between two non-zero digits are significant, no matter where the decimal point is, if at all, e.g. 6.028 has 4 significant figures.
Rule 3 If the number is less than 1, the zero(s) on the right of the decimal point but to the left of the first non-zero digit are not significant. e.g. 0.0042 has two significant digits.
Rule 4 The terminal or trailing zero(s) in a number without a decimal point are not significant. Thus, 426 m = 42600 cm = 426000 mm has three significant figures.
Rule 5 In a number with decimal, zeros to the right of the last non-zero digit are significant.
e.g. 4.600 or 0.002300 have four significant figures each.
Physics Teacher: RANADIP SAHA
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