Following the correct guidelines for significant figures is crucial in reporting accurate data that is reflective of the accuracy of the means used to collect it. It follows that the answer to any calculation can be no more nor any less precise than the least precise piece of data involved in the calculation. In this course, we will follow a set of rules meant to a) provide consistency to our significant figures and rounding and b) provide answers that agree, in accuracy and precision, with our measured data. These rules allow us to skip complex, although more accurate, data analysis, and provide us with a workable, functional, and accurate enough method for our purposes.
In this course we will consider significant figures to be: 1) any non-zero digit, 2) zeros within a number …show more content…
The last significant digit is the rounded digit and its value (rounded up or down) is determined by the following digit. A digit rounds up for numbers 5-9 and down for 0-4. [Note: Silverberg has more complicated rules for rounding when the next-place digit is a 5, but in this course we are using the aforementioned system.] For example 4.589 to three significant figures rounds to 4.59, where 4.581 to three significant figures rounds to 4.58.
Consistent adherence to these rules is crucial in this course because of the amount of information contained in significant figures-- the number of significant figures can reveal the accuracy of a calculation, the reliability of data, and the specificity with which it was measured. It follows, then, that under-reporting in significant figures wastes information and over-reporting is, in fact, "lying" about the specificity of measurement and calculation. Both are poor representations of the data collected, and the methods and certainty with which it was found.
Sources: Source Material provided in CPR essay assignment; Prof. Halpin's General Chemistry I Lecture
In this course we will consider significant figures to be: 1) any non-zero digit, 2) zeros within a number …show more content…
The last significant digit is the rounded digit and its value (rounded up or down) is determined by the following digit. A digit rounds up for numbers 5-9 and down for 0-4. [Note: Silverberg has more complicated rules for rounding when the next-place digit is a 5, but in this course we are using the aforementioned system.] For example 4.589 to three significant figures rounds to 4.59, where 4.581 to three significant figures rounds to 4.58.
Consistent adherence to these rules is crucial in this course because of the amount of information contained in significant figures-- the number of significant figures can reveal the accuracy of a calculation, the reliability of data, and the specificity with which it was measured. It follows, then, that under-reporting in significant figures wastes information and over-reporting is, in fact, "lying" about the specificity of measurement and calculation. Both are poor representations of the data collected, and the methods and certainty with which it was found.
Sources: Source Material provided in CPR essay assignment; Prof. Halpin's General Chemistry I Lecture