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SignificantSignificantFiguresFigures

Stage 6 - Year 11Stage 6 - Year 11

Mathematics

2

•All non-zeronon-zero numbers are significant

•zeros betweenbetween non-zero digits are significant

•zeros at the end of a decimal are significant

•all other zeros are notnot significant.

29712971 32.32.55

7.4567.456

30713071 60.60.55

8.0098.009

297.10297.10 32.0032.00 9.0009.000

09000900 02540254 0.4560.456PracticPractic

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3

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1. The first significant figure is the first non-zero number from the left (underlined in red).

Write 354 567 to 3 significant figures.

2. Underline the next 2 digits.

3. Looking at the next digit, underlined in blue. (Use 5/4 rounding to find the correct 3rd digit.)

The answer is 354 000, but

4. Since the 4th digit is 5 or greater, round up.The answer is 355 000.

4

1. The first significant figure is the first non-zero number from the left (underlined in red).

Write 0.077 356 to 2 significant figures.

2. Underline the next digit.

3. Looking at the next digit, underlined in blue. (Use 5/4 rounding to find the correct 3rd digit.)

The answer is 0.077, but

4. Since the next digit is 5 or less, round down.The answer is 0.077.

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5

1 2 3 4 5

2.340

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6

1 2 3 4 5

0.040

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7

1 2 3 4 5

2340

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8

1 2 3 4 5

120.34

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9

1 2 3 4 5

2020

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