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Mount Omega
Lv 4
Mount Omega asked in Science & MathematicsChemistry · 9 years ago

What does it mean to USE significant figures?

I know what sig figs are but what does it mean to USE them???

Example from my packet:

"What are the sum and products of 10.26 and 0.063? Use significant figures."

I'm not asking for the answer I just want to know what on earth do they mean? Do they want the answer in scientific notation?

2 Answers

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  • SkepDick
    Lv 7
    9 years ago
    Favorite Answer

    the rules are different for sums and products.

    for sums, the control is the measurement with the fewest decimal places:

    10.26 + 0.063 ≈ 10.32

    for products, the least precise measurement controls:

    10.26 × 0.063 ≈ 0.64

    nothing in the question refers to scientific notation.

    Source(s): http://www.usca.edu/chemistry/genchem/sigfig2.htm
  • Telesha
    9 years ago

    For significant figures you use the least amount of sig figs that is in the question for the answer...

    So how many sig figs are there in 10.26 or 0.063, the take the smallest number, work out the sum and express the answer with the smallest number of sig figs from the question...

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