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Rules for rounding off numbers. If the digit to be dropped is greater than 5, the last retained digit is increased by one. For example, 12.6 is rounded to 13. If the digit to be dropped is less than 5, the last remaining digit is left as it is. For example, 12.4 is rounded to 12.
Significant Figures and Rounding – Explanations and Examples Read pages 18-22 in your Lab Manual for a more thorough discussion of the meaning of significant figures and how it relates to accuracy, precision, and error. 1. Why do we have to worry about significant figures anyway?
• Significant figures: digits in the number that are reliable and absolutely necessary to indicate the quantity of something (Wikipedia). • Number of significant digits depends on the precision of the analytical method • More significant figures do not give more information on accuracy
Applies when there is only one figure after the number of decimal places or significant figures being considered and that figure is a 5. Rule: Round to the nearest even number
♦ Significant figures are different to decimal places ♦ Non-zero digits are significant ♦ The digit zero is ONLY significant if contained between non-zero digits or it is after the decimal point, at the end of a number
Significant Figures: Fundamentals. Use these rules when recording measurements and rounding calculations in chemistry. When Recording a Measurement. Write all the digits you are sure of, plus the first digit that you must estimate in the measurement – the first doubtful digit (the first uncertain digit). Then stop.
This resource shows what significant figures are and how to round numbers to one or two significant figures. Examples include rounding numbers such as 1508.06 and 0.01704.
