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Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and rules about significant figures from the notes.
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Significant figures
Digits in a measured number that include all certain digits plus a final digit with some uncertainty.
Uncertainty (final digit)
The last significant digit that has some uncertainty.
Leading zeros
Zeros on the left of the first nonzero digit; they never count as significant figures.
Enclosed zeros
Zeros between nonzero digits; they count as significant figures.
Trailing zeros
Zeros on the right; count as significant figures only if there is a decimal point present; otherwise, they do not.
Exact numbers
Numbers that have infinite significant figures.
Decimal places
Digits to the right of the decimal point; used to express precision and determine uncertainty in addition/subtraction.
Addition/subtraction rule for sig figs
For sums/differences, the result should have the same decimal-place precision as the number with the largest uncertainty.
Multiplication/division rule for sig figs
For products/divisions, the result should have the same number of significant figures as the factor with the fewest significant figures.
Logarithm (base-10) and sig figs
If L = log A, the number of decimal places in L equals the number of significant figures in A.
Antilogarithm and sig figs
If A = antilog L (A = 10^L), the number of significant figures in A equals the number of places after the decimal in L.
Common logarithm
The base-10 logarithm, denoted as log.