SIGNIFICANT FIGURES& SCIENTIFIC NOTATION Sig Figs

Rules for Sig Figs Rule:  All non-zero digits are significant. 12.83 cm  [4]       16935 g  [5] 223.1 m [ ] 1885L [ ] Rule:  Zeros between other significant figures are significant. 12 038 cm   [5]     169.04 g   [5]    70 304 g   [?]      395.01 kg   [?]

RULES cont. Zeros to the right of a decimal point and to the right of a number are significant 12.380 cm  [5]    169.00 m  [5]   3.010 mL  [4]     1.30 kg  [? ]   1691.100 cm  [? ] A zero standing alone to the left of a decimal point is not significant. 0.421 g  [3]    0.5 m  [? ]

RULES cont. Zeros to the right of the decimal and to the left of a number are not significant. 0.000 421 mg  [3]     0.001 80 cm  [3]      0.010 kg  [ ?]     0.01010 m  [?] Zeros to the right of the last number but left of the decimal point may or may not be significant.  This information is known only to the person that made the measurement.  Use scientific notation when in doubt.  The use of a bar over the last significant zero is acceptable as well as using the decimal point to indicate that all digits to its left are significant. 4000. g   [4]    3400 kg   [2]      69 700. mL   [ ? ]     4.50 2E g   [ ?]