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Grade -11 (NEB) > Science Physics Physical Quantities, Significant Figures & Error Analysis

What do you mean by a significant figure?

What do you mean by a significant figure?

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Tribhuvan University > Institute of Science and Technology > B.Sc. (CSIT)

The meaningful digits in a number are called significant figures.

The number of digits in a number is called its number of significant figures. The number of significant figures in a measurement depends upon the least count of the measuring instrument. For example, the length of a scale is 2.17 cm when measured by vernier caliper and 2.176 cm when measured by micrometer screw gauze. Then significant figures are 3 and 4. The more significant figure precious value of a measurement.

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Things to Remember From Significant Figures & Error Analysis

  1. The number of digits in a measurement that keeps meaning in a sense either being part of its magnitude or explaining the precision of the measurement is called a significant figure.

  2. Significant figures explain the accuracy of a measurement.

  3. The result of a calculation involving approximate measured values of quantities must reflect the uncertainties in the original measured values.

  4. In addition, or subtraction, care only the numbers right to the decimal point.

  5. In multiplication and division, care for all the numbers in the problem (not only after or before the decimal point).

  6. It is important to note that the absolute error has a unit whereas relative and percentage error is unitless.

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