Understanding Significant Figures in Measurements

Understanding Significant Figures

Significant figures, also known as significant digits, are digits that carry meaning contributing to the precision or accuracy of a number.

When determining the number of significant figures in a measurement:

• Non-zero digits are always significant. In this case, the numbers 3, 8, 7, and 6 in 3.876 are significant.
• Zeroes between non-zero digits are significant. The zero between 3 and 8 in 3.876 is significant.
• Leading zeroes (zeros to the left of the first non-zero digit) are not significant. For example, 0.034 has only two significant figures.
• Trailing zeroes after a decimal point are significant. In 23.050, the zeroes after 5 are significant.

Therefore, in the measurement 3.876 × 10^3 kg, there are four significant figures: 3, 8, 7, and 6.