How do you find signifcant figures?
Ex: 78.00

78.000 000 000 000 has 14
78.00 has 4
78.0 has 3
78 has 2

BUT adding more digits does not make more significant figures.

For example, if I weigh a turkey and it is 10 pounds. I have measured to within one pound. That's the significance. If I measure it to within a tenth of a pound, I could say it was 10.0 pounds.

Now if I took the original 10 pound measurement and translated that into kilograms, it would come out as 4.5359237 kilograms, using a calculator. But that is WAY too many significant figures. Remember, the original measurement was only accurate to within one pound, or about half a kilogram. So you could say the bird was 4.5 kilograms, but not 4.5359 etc. The other digits would imply significance that isn't there.

how do you find signifcant figures?
ex: 78.00

Hi, shortandsmall!

In order to help you the best, it would help to have some additional specifics concerning your question, if you would provide them, please?

Thanks!