If I divide 1.269 cm, calculated from a micrometer to 4 significant figures, by 2 (an exact value), and get 0.6345 cm (4 sig figs, as far as my teacher's concerned), how many sig figs should I round it to?
Should I round it to:
4 sig figs? [no rounding] (multiplication rule)
3 sig figs? (addition rule)
2007-09-21 15:17:35 · 3 answers · asked by Billy E 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
I'd think multiplication rule, only because there's division going on, but then it's by an exact number so I'm not so sure, I've been told to ignore that kind of thing.
2007-09-21 15:19:41 · update #1
I'm pretty sure it would be 4 sig figs because you did divide.
You round it to the lowest number of significant digits that was in the question, not including constants. Since 1.269 has 4 sig digits and 2 is a constant you round it to four.
2007-09-21 15:24:03 · answer #1 · answered by Katie 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No rounding. Forget the rules, Luke Skywalker......
Remember the RATIONALE for significant figures. An answer cannot be more precise than the least precise number in the calculation. The least precise number is 1.269.
2007-09-21 15:30:17 · answer #2 · answered by cattbarf 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
as far as accuracy is concerned, you should use 4 sf if you want to show how accurate your measurement is...but if we are to aplly the sf rule, only 1 sf is allowed, either 0.6 or 1 is the answer
2007-09-21 15:56:03 · answer #3 · answered by Jubert M 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋