Significant Figures in Derived Results:
Multiplication & Division
1) Determine how many
significant figures there are in each number to be multiplied or divided.
2) Determine which of these is the least
number of significant figures
3) This is the number of significant
digits to keep in the final answer.
The product or quotient should be rounded off
to the same number of significant figures as in the measurement with the fewest
significant figures.
Examples:
(The significant figures are blue. The uncertain digit is bold.)
Multiplication
Division
3020.1
(5 significant figures)
x 2.0
(2 sig fig)
6040.2
= 6000 |
|
(3 sig fig) (4 sig
fig) |
"2" is the least
number of significant figures. So, keep 2 sig fig in the final
answer. The line indicates that the first zero is significant, and
the last two are place holders. |
|
"3" is the least number
of significant figures. So, keep 3 sig fig in the final answer. |
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