1. Significant Figures
or Sig Figs

2. This can be
difficult so …
Hold on tight
for a wild ride

3. Rule 1: All nonzero digits
are SIGNIFICANT
673 has 3 sig figs
2.8 has 2 sig figs
5.325 x 10 8 has 4 sig
figs

4. Rule 2 -All zeros
“sandwiched” or between
nonzero digits are significant
506 has three
1.009 has four
1.01 x 10 4 has three

5. Rule 3: Trailing zeros are
significant if the number
contains a decimal point
34,800. mL has
five sig figs
34,800 mL has
three sig figs

6. 2.90 x 10 has
3
three sig figs

7. Rule 4: Leading zeros that function
only to hold the decimal point are
NOT significant
0.0032 mL has
two sig figs
0.0000009 m has
one sig fig

8. Rule 5: Zeros in a decimal
number after a non-zero digit
are significant
0.000530 kg has
three sig figs
0.400100 cm has
six sig figs

9. QUIZ
198.03
8,040
1.65005
0.000430
10.0040
50,100.