• Want to take part in this year's BoS Trials event for Maths and/or Business Studies?
    Click here for details and register now!
  • YOU can help the next generation of students in the community!
    Share your trial papers and notes on our Notes & Resources page

Significant figures (1 Viewer)

mtsmahia

Member
Joined
Jun 21, 2008
Messages
284
Gender
Male
HSC
2010
Just wanted to ask something
When you multiply or divide in calculations you round of to least sig figs

so would something like 20.2 * 3= 60 ?

And if you are adding numbers how do u round off?

like 40 +5.0 = ?


Thanks!
 

Aerath

Retired
Joined
May 10, 2007
Messages
10,169
Gender
Undisclosed
HSC
N/A
Strictly speaking, in Phys, you don't round off to significant figures until your final answer, because it might affect your answer. But yes, as a general rule, you do round off to the least number of SF. So 40 + 5.0 = 54. Similarly, 20.2*3 = 61.
 

mtsmahia

Member
Joined
Jun 21, 2008
Messages
284
Gender
Male
HSC
2010
Strictly speaking, in Phys, you don't round off to significant figures until your final answer, because it might affect your answer. But yes, as a general rule, you do round off to the least number of SF. So 40 + 5.0 = 54. Similarly, 20.2*3 = 61.
how did u do 20.2 *3 ?
since the least amount of sig figs is 1 then shoudnt it be 60?
 

Users Who Are Viewing This Thread (Users: 0, Guests: 1)

Top