PRECISION – refers to how close to one another the measured values in a series are.
ACCURACY – refers to how close the measured value is relative to a standard value.
Measurement in Science often requires a definite or specific figure to express a certain number
or a calculated quantity.
SIGNIFICANT FIGURES – This pertains to the digits of figures that are certain to give
reasonably reliable information.
RULES IN DETERMINING SIGNIFICANT FIGURES:
1. All non-zero digits (1-9) are significant
Example: 1593 587s has 7 significant figures
16.21 has 4 significant figures
2. Zeros to the left of the first nonzero digits are not significant.
Example: 0.56 has 2 significant figures
0.00001 has 1 significant figure
3. Zeros between non-zero digits are significant
Example: 5.3900007 has 8 significant figures
4026g has 4 significant figures
4. Zeros to the right of a nonzero digit with a decimal point are significant
Example: 1895.0 has 5 significant figures
93.70 has 4 significant figures
5. Zeros at the end of a nonzero digit without a decimal point are non-significant
Example: 14500km has 3 significant figures
8220 has 4 significant figures
SIGNIFICANT FIGURES IN CALCULATION
1. Addition and Subtraction
In addition and subtraction, the number of decimal places in the answer should be the same as the
number with the least decimal places among those being added or subtracted.
2. Multiplication and Division
In multiplication and division, the answer should have the same number of significant figures as the
number, among those being multiplied or subtracted, with the least number of significant figure.
ACCURACY – refers to how close the measured value is relative to a standard value.
Measurement in Science often requires a definite or specific figure to express a certain number
or a calculated quantity.
SIGNIFICANT FIGURES – This pertains to the digits of figures that are certain to give
reasonably reliable information.
RULES IN DETERMINING SIGNIFICANT FIGURES:
1. All non-zero digits (1-9) are significant
Example: 1593 587s has 7 significant figures
16.21 has 4 significant figures
2. Zeros to the left of the first nonzero digits are not significant.
Example: 0.56 has 2 significant figures
0.00001 has 1 significant figure
3. Zeros between non-zero digits are significant
Example: 5.3900007 has 8 significant figures
4026g has 4 significant figures
4. Zeros to the right of a nonzero digit with a decimal point are significant
Example: 1895.0 has 5 significant figures
93.70 has 4 significant figures
5. Zeros at the end of a nonzero digit without a decimal point are non-significant
Example: 14500km has 3 significant figures
8220 has 4 significant figures
SIGNIFICANT FIGURES IN CALCULATION
1. Addition and Subtraction
In addition and subtraction, the number of decimal places in the answer should be the same as the
number with the least decimal places among those being added or subtracted.
2. Multiplication and Division
In multiplication and division, the answer should have the same number of significant figures as the
number, among those being multiplied or subtracted, with the least number of significant figure.
