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    Sig Figs in Calc Rules 7-1-09

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    mauromaurolara
    When performing calculations with measured values, the number of significant figures in the final answer is determined by the measured value with the fewest significant figures. [For multiplication and division, the answer should have the same number of significant figures as the least precise measured value. For addition and subtraction, the answer should have the same number of decimal places as the least precise measured value.] Calculations involving multiple step types require rounding after each step. The number of decimal places retained in logarithm values matches the number of significant figures in the original number.

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    Sig Figs in Calc Rules 7-1-09

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    mauromaurolara
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    When performing calculations with measured values, the number of significant figures in the final answer is determined by the measured value with the fewest significant figures. [For multiplication and division, the answer should have the same number of significant figures as the least precise measured value. For addition and subtraction, the answer should have the same number of decimal places as the least precise measured value.] Calculations involving multiple step types require rounding after each step. The number of decimal places retained in logarithm values matches the number of significant figures in the original number.

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    When performing calculations with measured values, the number of significant figures in the final answer is determined by the measured value with the fewest significant figures. [For multiplication and division, the answer should have the same number of significant figures as the least precise measured value. For addition and subtraction, the answer should have the same number of decimal places as the least precise measured value.] Calculations involving multiple step types require rounding after each step. The number of decimal places retained in logarithm values matches the number of significant figures in the original number.

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    34 views2 pages

    Sig Figs in Calc Rules 7-1-09

    Uploaded by

    mauromaurolara
    When performing calculations with measured values, the number of significant figures in the final answer is determined by the measured value with the fewest significant figures. [For multiplication and division, the answer should have the same number of significant figures as the least precise measured value. For addition and subtraction, the answer should have the same number of decimal places as the least precise measured value.] Calculations involving multiple step types require rounding after each step. The number of decimal places retained in logarithm values matches the number of significant figures in the original number.

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    Significant Figures in Calculations Rules

    When doing multiplication or division with measured values, the answer should
    have the same number of significant figures as the measured value with the least
    number of significant figures.
    Procedure to determine significant figures after multiplication or division:
    1. Multiply or divide the numbers using your calculator.
    2. Round the result to have the same number of significant figures as the measured value
    with the least number of significant figures.
    Below are two examples.

    A) Write the product of 2.10 0.5896 with the correct number of significant figures.

    Step 1) 2.10 0.5896 = 1.23816


    Step 2) 1.23816 = 1.24 (three sig. figs because 2.10 has three)
    The answer is 1.24

    B) Write the quotient of 16.15 / 2.7 with the correct number of significant figures.

    Step 1) 16.15 / 2.7 = 5.98148148


    Step 2) 5.98148148 = 6.0 (two sig. figs because 2.7 has two)
    The answer is 6.0

    When doing addition or subtraction with measured values, the answer should
    have the same precision as the least precise measurement (value) used in the
    calculation.
    Procedure to determine significant figures after adding or subtracting:
    1. Add or subtract the numbers on your calculator (or by hand).
    2. Round the result to the same number of decimal places as the least precise value.

    Below are two examples.


    A) Write the sum of 1.586 + 2.31 with the correct number of significant figures.

    Step 1) 1.586 + 2.31 = 3.896


    Step 2) 3.896 = 3.90 (two decimal places because 2.31 has two decimal places)
    The answer is 3.90

    B) Write the difference of 0.954 - 0.3109 with the correct number of significant figures.

    Step 1) 0.954 - 0.3109 = 0.6431


    Step 2) 0.6431 = 0.643 (three decimal places; 0.954 has three decimal places )
    The answer is 0.643
    Significant Figures with Mixed Operations
    When doing a calculation that involves only multiplication and/or division, you can do the entire
    calculation then round the answer to the correct number of significant figures at the end. The
    same is true for a calculation that involves only addition and/or subtraction.

    But what about a calculation that involves mixed operations: both multiplication or
    division and addition or subtraction?

    When doing calculations that involve both multiplication or division and addition or subtraction,
    first do a calculation for the operation shown in parenthesis and round that value to the correct
    number of significant figures, then use the rounded number to carry out the next operation.

    Significant Figures with Log Values (Chapter 9)

    Procedure to determine significant figures after performing a logarithm:

    (We will not need this until chapter 9 when we do pH)

    1. Calculate the logarithm of the number.


    2. Round the result to keep the same number of decimal places as there were significant
    figures in the original number.

    Examples: log(4.500103) = 3.6532125 = 3.6532 (4 decimal places)


    log(4.50103) = 3.6532125 = 3.653 (3 decimal places)
    log(4.5103) = 3.6532125 = 3.65 (2 decimal places)

    The rules for expressing significant figures with logarithms will only rarely be encountered in
    introductory chemistry. The main context for this rule will be the calculation of pH, encountered
    in acid-base chemistry. Often, pH is reported with one decimal place corresponding to a
    concentration measurement with a precision of one significant figure.

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