Chemistry: Significant FiguresExplanation & Practice

I.

Significant Figures Convention

Digits that result from measurements such that only the digit farthest to the right is not
known with certainty are called significant figures. The number of significant figures in a
measurement is equal to the number of digits known plus one that is estimated. Look at
the following examples.
24.3 C
3 significant figures

24.32 C
4 significant figures

When are zeros significant digits?

1.

Zeros to the right of a decimal point and following a digit are always counted as
significant.
4.500 m = 4 significant

2.

Zeros to the left of the first non-zero digits in a decimal are never counted as significant.
.0023 m = 2 significant

3.

Zeros on the end of a number without decimal points are assumed not to be significant.
45000 = 2 significant
Note: Official conversions like, 1 ft. = 12 inches are ignored when involved in a problem.
How many significant figures exist with the following figures?
.002300
.0023
5.0023
5.
50

II.

=
=
=
=
=

4 significant
2 significant
5 significant
1 significant
1 significant

Addition and subtraction of significant numbers

For addition and subtraction, the answer should have the same number of decimal places as the
quantity with the fewest number of decimal places.

Chemistry: Significant FiguresExplanation & Practice

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Example:
.0634
3.145
4.5
7.7084

.0634
3.145
4.500
7.7084

= 7.7 (answer)

= 7.708 (answer)

Simplify the following answers to the least significant figure.

1.

500.
5
14.41
6.0
525.41

2.

3. 25.1
+ 5.0
20.1

7 x 10
6.5 x 10
4 x 10
7.69 x 10

Final answers to the above 3 problems: 525,

III.

7.7 x 103,

and

20.1

Multiplication and Division of Significant Figures

For multiplication and division the number of significant figures in the answer should not
be greater than the number of significant figures in the least precise measurement. For
example, the smallest number of significant figures in an individual number.
3.14 2.75
= 134.92 = 135. Answer
.0640

IV.
Ex.

Combined Arithmetic Operations Using Significant Figures

(14.25cm 12.334cm)
(2.223cm 1.04cm)

Perform the above calculation and round to the correct number of significant figures and proper
units.
Step 1: Perform the respective unit operations within the parenthesis using the rules associated
with addition/subtraction or multiplication/division.

Combined Arithmetic Operations Using Significant Figures

(14.25cm 12.334cm)
(2.223cm 1.04cm)
Perform the above calculation and round to the correct number of significant figures and proper
units.
Ex.

Chemistry: Significant FiguresExplanation & Practice

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(14.25cm 12.334cm) = 175.7595cm

When multiplying or dividing, answer must be rounded to the same number of significant figures
as the smallest value in the original problem.
14.25 = 4 significant figures
12.334 = 5 significant figures
(14.25cm 12.334cm) = 175.7595cm

175.8cm

When adding or subtracting, answer must be rounded to the least significant after the decimal
place. (Also referred to as the least precise)
(2.223cm 1.04cm) = 1.183cm

3 decimals

2 decimals

(2.223cm 1.04cm) = 1.183cm

1.18cm

Step 2: Take each rounded value from step 1 above and perform the division
175.8 cm = 148.9830508
1.18cm
Use the division rule, which requires the least number of total significant figures.
175.8 cm
1.18cm

148.9830508

4 sig. figs.
3 sig. figs.

149 cm

When multiplying or dividing, answer must be rounded to the have the same number of
significant figures as the smallest value in the original problem.

Chemistry: Significant FiguresExplanation & Practice

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V.

Simplify the following answers to the least significant figure.

A.

20.4 15.615

B.

20.4 20.4

14.12 + 6.58

20.5

6.23
16.84 7.2

C.

Answers

A.

20.4

15.615 = 318.546 (3 sig figures)

B.

20.4 20.4 = 1 (3 sig figures)

14.12 + 6.58
C.

20.5

6.23 =
16.84 7.2

ans. 319

ans. 1.00

20.7 3.290529695
=
121.248

(2 dec) (3 sig) 20.70 3.29

=
= .567525 (2 sig)
(2 sig)
120

ans. .57

Chemistry: Significant FiguresExplanation & Practice

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