Precision Matters: Determining The Right Number Of Significant Figures

Determining the appropriate number of significant figures for your final answer is essential for maintaining precision in your calculations. To achieve this, identify the quantity involved in your calculation with the least number of significant figures. In practice, locate this least precise value to determine the number of significant figures in your final result. For instance, consider the following example where the value with the fewest significant figures is 27.2, which has three significant figures. In such cases, your final answer should also be expressed with three significant figures to maintain consistency and accuracy throughout your calculation.

The number 5400 contains two trailing zeros, indicating precision to the nearest hundred. Since there is no decimal point, these zeros are considered non-significant. Therefore, the significant figures in 5400 amount to only two, which are the digits 5 and 4. This information clarifies that the trailing zeros do not contribute to the precision of the number. This clarification was provided on February 16th, 2020.