Question

Does anyone know sig figs?

Answer 1

they are the worst kind of figs...

anyway, in sciences its used as a rounding system
examples:
1.23 has 3 sig figs
0.123 also has 3 sig figs
1.023 has 4 sig figs

Answer 2

Oh I do know that, just a few questions haha. Can you answer some?

Answer 3

oh yeah sure
and just in case .... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Significant_figures

Answer 4

\[1.278 \times10^{3}\div1.4267\times10^{2}\]

Answer 5

divide the numbers....and subtract the exponents

Answer 6

What do you mean?

Answer 7

\[\frac{1.278*10^{3}}{1.4267*10^{2}} =\frac{1.278}{1.4267}* 10^{3-2} \]

Answer 8

I get .89577 when dividing, but how do I make it so that it will have four sig figs?

Answer 9

round to 4 places
--> .8958 * 10
put it in correct scientific notation
--> 8.958 * 10^0

Answer 10

Why do you subtract the powers?

Answer 11

its the rule for when dividing numbers with exponents

\[\frac{a^{m}}{a^{n}} = a^{m-n}\]
example:
8/4 = 2 right , now make 8 and 4 into powers of 2
\[\frac{2^{3}}{2^{2}} = 2\]

Answer 12

Last question! @dumbcow
How do you make 0.00172776 into having 2 sig figs?

Answer 13

since it has 2 leading zeros, round to 4 places --> .0017

Answer 14

Thank you!