Significant Figures

Significant Figures are the digits within a measurement that represent the certainty of that measurement.

Significant Figures are determined with set rules.

1. All non-zero digits are significant.
2. All ending zeros after a decimal point are significant.
3. Zeros between non-zero digits are significant.
4. Beginning zeros are not significant. Convert these numbers to scientific notation to confirm.
5. Zeros at the end of a number that does not have a decimal point are ambigious.

Determine the number of significant figures in the examples below.

• 5.304
• 15.400
• 2.1
• 0.094
• 0.00850
• 450
• 14.0
• 36.
• 0.100
• 9.3200