Chemistry / Unit 1 Chem 0125 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Significant Figures Defined
Captions available
The idea
Significant figures are all digits in a measurement known with certainty, plus one final estimated digit.
In practice
Reading a graduated cylinder as 21.6 mL treats the 2 and 1 as certain and the 6 as the estimated, uncertain digit.
Where people slip
More digits do not mean more precision — writing 21.60 implies a more precise instrument than the one that gave 21.6.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
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