Significant Figures Calculator

How to Calculate Significant Figures

Significant figures, also known as significant digits, are used in science and engineering to express the precision of a measurement or calculation. Understanding how to count and use significant figures is crucial for accurate scientific calculations and reporting.

Formula

There isn't a single formula for significant figures, but rather a set of rules to determine which digits are significant:

• All non-zero digits are significant
• Zeros between non-zero digits are significant
• Leading zeros are never significant
• Trailing zeros in a number with a decimal point are significant
• Trailing zeros in a whole number may or may not be significant

Calculation Steps

1. Identify the digits in the number
2. Apply the rules for significant figures
3. Count the significant digits

Example

Let's count the significant figures in 0.00305000:

1. Identify the digits: 0.00305000
2. Apply the rules:
   • Leading zeros (0.00) are not significant
   • 3, 0, and 5 are significant
   • Trailing zeros after the decimal point (000) are significant
3. Count the significant digits: 3, 0, 5, 0, 0, 0 (6 significant figures)

Therefore, 0.00305000 has 6 significant figures.

Visual Representation

This diagram illustrates how 0.00305000 has 6 significant figures, highlighted in blue.