Contents
Key Stage 4
Meaning
Significant Figures are the number of digits representing the accurate value of a number.
About Significant Figures
- Significant Figures begin with the digit representing the largest number.
- A number may be correct to a given number of significant figures.
- The number of significant figures is related to how resolution of a measuring instrument.
- When performing a calculation the answer should never be given to more significant figures than the numbers used in the calculation.
Examples
π = 3.14159265359 correct to 12 significant figures.
π = 3.142 correct to 4 significant figures.
The diameter of Earth = 12,742,000m correct to 5 significant figures.
The diameter of Earth = 12,700,000m correct to 3 significant figures.
The diameter of Earth = 10,000,000m correct to 1 significant figures.
References
AQA
- Significant figure (maths skill), pages 39, 87, GCSE Physics; Student Book, Collins, AQA
- Significant figures (maths), pages 286-7, GCSE Chemistry; Student Book, Collins, AQA
- Significant figures, page 14, GCSE Combined Science Trilogy; Physics, CGP, AQA
- Significant figures, page 15, GCSE Biology, CGP, AQA
- Significant figures, page 15, GCSE Chemistry, CGP, AQA
- Significant figures, page 15, GCSE Combined Science Trilogy; Biology, CGP, AQA
- Significant figures, page 15, GCSE Combined Science Trilogy; Chemistry, CGP, AQA
- Significant figures, page 15, GCSE Physics; The Complete 9-1 Course for AQA, CGP, AQA
- Significant figures, page 180, GCSE Combined Science Trilogy 1, Hodder, AQA
- Significant figures, page 259, GCSE Physics; Third Edition, Oxford University Press, AQA
- Significant figures, page 6, GCSE Biology; The Revision Guide, CGP, AQA
- Significant figures, page 6, GCSE Combined Science; The Revision Guide, CGP, AQA
- Significant figures, page 6, GCSE Physics; The Revision Guide, CGP, AQA
- Significant figures, page 67, GCSE Chemistry, Hodder, AQA
- Significant figures, page 7, GCSE Chemistry; The Revision Guide, CGP, AQA
Edexcel
- Significant figures, page 15, GCSE Biology, CGP, Edexcel
- Significant figures, page 15, GCSE Physics, CGP, Edexcel
- Significant figures, page 6, GCSE Combined Science; The Revision Guide, CGP, Edexcel
- Significant figures, page 7, GCSE Biology; The Revision Guide, CGP, Edexcel
- Significant figures, page 7, GCSE Chemistry; The Revision Guide, CGP, Edexcel
- Significant figures, page 7, GCSE Physics; The Revision Guide, CGP, Edexcel
- Significant figures, pages 15, 332, GCSE Chemistry, CGP, Edexcel