^Significant figures

^Significant figures

All accurately known digits plus the first uncertain digit of a measurement is called significant digits or significant figures. e.g. if in a measurement, mass of a body lies between 5.6 kg & 5.7 kg & we estimate it as 5.62 kg then the first two digits 5 & 6 are certain while the third digit 2 is approximately known we can say there are 3 significant figures.

Following are the rules for counting significant figures

Rule 1: All non zero digits are significant.

Rule 2: All zeros occuring between two non zero digits are significant.

Rule 3: The digit zero (underlined) conventionally put on the left of a decimal for a number less than one is never significant. All zeros to the right the decimal point are not significant.

Rule 4: The terminal or trailing zero(s) in a number without a decimal point are not significant.

Rule 5: The trailing zero(s) in a number with a decimal point are significant.

Rule 6: The powers of ten are not significant.

Rule 7: No. of significant figures remains unchanged on changing the units of measurement, zeroes appearing in the base number in the scientific notation are significant.

Example	NSD	Using rule
4567	Four	1
450067	Six	2
0.004567	Four	3
456700	Four	4
0.00456700	Six	5
4.5 x 10 – 6	Two	6
5.300 x 10 6 mm	Four	7