Ask Me Help Desk

Ask Me Help Desk (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/forum.php)
-   Mathematics (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/forumdisplay.php?f=199)
-   -   Signifcant figures? (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/showthread.php?t=301871)

  • Jan 10, 2009, 06:33 PM
    shortandsmall
    Signifcant figures?
    How do you find signifcant figures?
    Ex: 78.00
  • Jan 10, 2009, 07:04 PM
    KISS

    78.000 000 000 000 has 14
    78.00 has 4
    78.0 has 3
    78 has 2
  • Jan 10, 2009, 11:42 PM
    asking

    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.
  • Jan 11, 2009, 03:05 AM
    Clough
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by shortandsmall View Post
    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!

  • All times are GMT -7. The time now is 10:52 PM.