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Chemistry Forums for Students => Analytical Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: davidenarb on September 30, 2014, 09:45:21 PM

Title: Significant figures
Post by: davidenarb on September 30, 2014, 09:45:21 PM

Hi all

I recently started to read an analytical chem textbook, and the significant figures section drives me crazy! although it seems like a high school part.

in multiplicaiton/division, the answer should be rounded so that it contains the same number of significant digits as the original
number with the smallest number of significant digits.

However, in my textbook it has this example:

24 x 4.52 / 100.0 = 1.08

for me since 24 has 2 sig figs, then the answer should be 1.1

Can you clarify for me why the answer is 1.08 and not 1.1 ?

thanks

Title: Re: Significant figures
Post by: Borek on October 01, 2014, 03:50:42 AM

Chances are 24 is an exact number (say, 24 objects). But if the question is just about finding the value of the expression, without telling what these numbers mean, then you are right - the answer should be 1.1.