- What are the rules for significant figures?
- read the rules people have already written
- if you like a rule like the post
- if you think you can state the rule in a better way do so
- What is the fewest number of rules necessary to determine all types of significant figures?
- What about adding and subtracting # of different significance? Is there a simple rule or way to explain it?
- if your post is about adding and subtracting make the first line (+,-)
Dan Nachtigall Mod 7-My rule for significant digits is that all whole numbers count and zeros only count if they are between whole numbers ex. 1000=1 while 1001=4. My second rule is that ALL numbers behind a decimal as long as a whole number is before the decimal be it 1 or 1000, ALL numbers behind the decimal count. I even tested 1.000, 1.001, 0.000, 0.001
ReplyDeleteSorry, that is not completely true. In class we a number like 0.008 and it had 1 sigfig. If a decimal is involved, all non-leading zeros are significant.
DeleteDan Nachtigall MOD 7 I mentioned that it has to be between two whole numbers to count as a sig fig
DeleteI completely agree with Dan in class we also tested this theory in class he is just restating what we decided in class. Jacob Ludwig
Delete(+,-) When adding and subtracting with significant figures, the sum or difference of the numbers is limited to having the same number of decimal places as the number (addend or subtrahend) with the smallest number of decimal places.
ReplyDelete-Erin Kiernan (Mod 9)
this is very clever
Deletecouldn't have said it better myself!
DeleteRachel Kelley
I Like it.
ReplyDeleteI like Dan N's rule of significant figures but I cannot explain it in a better way. The fewest number of rules there can be are aleast 3.
ReplyDelete-Madison Hull mod 7
Dan Nachtigall MOD7 thank you for your concurrence also, yes there are 3 rules I just came up with that 1 as I can't explain the other 2 different from the other posts.
DeleteA number is significant if it is a nonzero number, its a caboose zero, or a sandwiched zero. A caboose zero is a zero that comes after the decimal point and is all the way to the right. A sandwiched zero is a zero that is between two significant figures. The fewest number of rules you need to define a sig fig is three. For adding and subtracting, you would add or subtract normally. Then, you will determine how many sig figs the sum or difference will have by the numbers in the equation. You would give the sum or difference the maximum number of sig figs from the numbers in the equation.
ReplyDelete-Sydney Portock Mod 4
I would also like to state that we add the zeroes after the decimal point to make the number more exact. For example, 4 and 4.0 are the same numerical value, however the meaning of the numbers are different. 4.0 is more direct and exact than 4 alone.
Delete-Sydney Portock
I agree with Dan's rule as well and I can't seem to find anything to add. The fewest rules to define a significant figure is three.
ReplyDelete-TJ Aldridge Mod 7
(+,-) I agree with Dan's rule as well as Sydney's. I would also add that negatives are not significant, and they do not affect the pattern.
ReplyDelete-Morgan Schutz, Mod 7
Nikki kordomenos mod 7- i agree completely with dans rule, the only thing that seems to effect the pattern is zeros not in between non zero numbers
ReplyDeleteThis is like Dan's Rule.
ReplyDeletea. All non-zero numbers are significant.
b. All leading zeros are not significant.
c.if a decimal is involved, all non-leading zeros are significant.
d. All zeros that are in between non-zero numbers are significant.
This rule applies to measurement and what numbers you would use when measuring. You wouldn't use leading zeros. The more precise at number can be, the better.
-Connor Klotz MOD 7
I would also like to give Sydney credit.
DeleteThe only rule I have to add is that any number with all 0's in it will always have 1 significant figure. We tested this in class. The number 0 has 1 significant figure. The number 0.00 also has 1 significant figure. even the number 00.00 has 1 significant figure. It is impossible to have less than 1 significant figure in a number.
ReplyDelete-Larissa Pastore (mod 9)
(+,-) I completely agree with the rules Connor Klotz put. They are the rules that we came up with. One thing I would like to say is that rule B doesn't have to be there cause it goes along with rule D. If you have a leading zero it is not significant and only zeros between non-zero numbers are significant:are proving the same thing.
ReplyDelete-Neil Patel Mod 7
I love Dan's explanation, yet i have just one more rule to add. for example, for 0.2, the number of significant figures would be one do to rules Dan stated. However, if there were a zero after the 2, that number would count as a sig fig also because it allows the entire number to be more direct and specific.
ReplyDeleteMatt Epstein Mod 4
I love Dan's explanation, yet i have just one more rule to add. for example, for 0.2, the number of significant figures would be one do to rules Dan stated. However, if there were a zero after the 2, that number would count as a sig fig also because it allows the entire number to be more direct and specific.
ReplyDeleteMatt Epstein Mod 4
I agree with Dan's explanation as well as Sydey's. I think that another rule that has not been touched on, is the statement that clarifies the significance of zero and non-zero numbers on the right side of the decimal point. For example, .003 has only one sig fig. Another way you could look at it is if you put it on the left side of the decimal. The number would be 300 which also has one sig fig.
ReplyDeleteI think the rule for significant figures is all whole numbers except for 0 count as 1. You add them together to get the final answer. However, if there are one or more zeros in between two non-zero digits, the zero/s are significant.
ReplyDelete-John Sharkey Mod 7
When it comes to significant figures there several rules. Whole numbers count. Zeros count as well as long as they are in between two whole numbers or are following a decimal point. Lastly, the number 0 by itself counts as 1 sig fig.
ReplyDeleteMath
ReplyDeletePhysics
History
I agree with Dan and Conner's rule about significant figures. If a zero is in between two nonzero numbers, it is significant. I like how he said if a "decimal is involved, all non-leading zeros are significant."In the decimal 0.007832, there are are 4 significant figures. In the decimal 14.380, there are 5 significant figures. Also, all non-zero numbers are significant like in the decimal 3.58 (there are 3 significant figures)This applies to the rules. And to answer the question above, the fewest number of rules necessary is 3.
-Samantha Pastore mod 7
I agree with Morgan, John, Dan, Erin, Matt and Austin. I also believe that all whole numbers count, and 0's count only when in between two whole numbers. In addition, I think that decimals and have something to do with it when the are not or are behind a whole # because they do not count if they aren't but they do count if they are. I believe that negative #'s also don't count because there are none and are not significant. If there was a 2 after a zero or 1 after the decimal point, it would be significant and would count as 1 too. Personally, I think the fewest amount of rules necessary to determine all types of significant figures is 2.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Erin and Dan, and basically everyone. Since a lot of people have posted before me there's not much to add. I remember Mr. Crane saying there are 3 rules and that's it, but every time I try I seem to get 4 or something that doesn't seem correct. I am excited to see what the outcome of that will be. I also agree with the (+,-) rules people like Erin posted above.
ReplyDelete~Emily Mack Mod 7
(+,-) I agree with everyone's rules they have stated so far. The fewest amount of rules to describe significant numbers accurately is three. As far as adding and subtracting significant figures goes, my hypothesis is it would be akin to adding and subtracting numbers as we usually do. For example, if you wanted to subtract 8507 by 1230, you would first find the significant figures in each number, which is 4 and 3, respectively. Then you would do 4-3 which equals 1. The same would be for adding, but instead you would do 4+3 which equals 7. I'm curious to know if you could multiply and divide these numbers as well.
ReplyDelete-John Mairone Mod 7
Significant Numbers is pretty simple
ReplyDelete1. Numbers that aren't zero (significant)
2. Any number with a zero in front of it (not significant)
3. Zeros in between significant numbers (significant)
4. With a decimal, zeros after a number (significant)
-Rachel Rha (mod 9)
The rule for significant figures is that the zeroes have a certain value where the decimal is placed. When there is no decimal place, zeroes have no value unless by itself, after the decimal or between numbers higher than or equal to 1. For example, 150 would be 2, 105 would have a significant value of 3, 105.50 would have significant value of 5, and 0 would be 1.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Dan and Conner in the beginning but I think Dan could have worded the rule about the decimals better. Rule: if a zero is behind the decimal point, it'll only be significant if there is a significant number before it (even if its before the decimal point)
ReplyDeleteAnd I think the fewest number of rules you can have for the significant figures are 3 rules.
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