Significant Figures

This is another way of rounding or approximating a number.

When we count significant figures we need to know that 0's at the beginning and end don't count.

Worked examples

459000 has 3 s. f

0.0008096 has 4 s.f

457.5732 = 457.57 (to 5 s.f)

= 457.6 (to 4 s.f)

= 458 (to 3 s.f)

= 460 (to 2 s.f)

= 500 (to 1 s.f)