SIGNIFICANT FIGURES

Rounding off positive numbers to a given number of significant figures.

1. The significant figures of a number greater than 1 are counted from left to right from
the first figure of the number.
Example:

Thus, 36 089 has 5 significant figures.

2. The significant figures of a number less than 1 are counted from left to right from the
first non-zero figure of the number.
Example:

Thus, 0.002960 has 4 significant figures.

3. To round off a positive number which is greater than 1 to n significant figures,
follow the steps below:
1. Observe the (n+1)th significant figure.
2. A) if the (n+1)th significant figure is 5 or above, add 1 to the nth significant figure.
B) if it is less than 5, do not add 1 to the nth significant figure.
3. A) if the given number is an integer, change all the figures after the nth
significant figure to zeros.
B) if the given number is a decimal and the nth significant figure is before the
decimal point, then change all the figures after the nth significant figure to zeros
and omit all the figures after the decimal point.
C) if the given number is a decimal and the nth significant figure is after the
decimal point, then omit all figures after the nth significant figure.
Example:
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

Rounding off each integer below correct to the number of significant

figures given in the bracket.

76 134 (2) = 76 000

82 967 (3) = 83 000
2 005 437 (4) = 2 005 000
99 713 (2) = 100 000
2 136.84 (2) = 2 100

f) 7 068.35 (3) = 7 070

g) 5.03428 (4) = 5.034
h) 8.99503 (3) = 9.00
i)

4. To round off a positive number which is less than 1 to n significant figures, follow
the steps below:
1

1. Observe the (n+1)th significant figure.

2. A) if the (n+1)th significant figure is 5 or above, add 1 to the nth significant figure.
5. B)
if it is less than 5, do not add 1 to the nth significant figure.
3. Omit all figures after the nth significant figure.
6.
Example:
figures
a)
b)
c)
d)

Round off each decimal below to the number of significant

given in brackets.

0.081235 (2) = 0.081

0.197602 (3) = 0.198
0.00730048 (4) = 0.007300
0.899742 (3) = 0.900

7. EXERCISE
8. Round off each integer/decimal below, correct to the number of significant figures
given in brackets.

1. 58 793 (2)
2. 10 529 (3)
3. 10 970 (3)
4. 30 021 (4)
5. 102.75 (2)
6. 7.0534 (2)
7. 4 327.3 (3)
8. 70.998 (4)
9. 0.032841 (2)
10. 0.496381 (2)
11. 0.00070046 (3)
12. 0.60097432 (4)
13. 3.9965 (3)
14. 1 483.9 (3)
15. 0.00329967 (4)
16. 50 382 (2)
17.
18. STANDARD FORM
19. State positive numbers in the standard form.
1. When a positive number is expressed in the form

A 10n , where

1 A<10

and

n is an integer, the number is said to be written in the standard form or in scientific

notation.
20.
Example:

7.16 104 , 3.4 1025.009 107

are numbers expressed in the

standard form.
1

0.38 105 2.3 10 2

are not in the standard form.

21.
22.
23.
2. To express a positive number greater than or equal to 10 in the standard form,
follow the steps below:
a) Shift the decimal point of the number to the left so that it becomes a number A,
where

1 A<10 .

b) Suppose the decimal point has been shifted n places to the left, then n is
positive.
c) Thus, the given number can be expressed as

A 10

,where n is a positive

value.
24.
25.

Example: Express the following numbers in the standard form.

a) 834.69 =

8.3469 102

b) 6 700.3 =

6.7003 103

c) 34 985 =

3.4985 104

d) 8 070 =

8.07 103

26.
3. To express a positive number less than 1 in standard form, follow the steps below:
a) Shift the decimal point of the number to the right so that it becomes a number A,
where

1 A<10 .

b) Suppose the decimal point has been shifted n places to the right, then n is
negative.
c) Thus, the given number can be expressed as

A 10n , were n is a negative

value.
27.
28.

Example: Express the following numbers in the standard form.

3

a) 0.00507 =

5.07 10

b) 0.03008 =

3.008 10

8 10

c) 0.0008 =

2.6 10

d) 0.002600 =
29.
30.

Convert number in the standard form to a single numbers.

1. To convert a number given in the form

A 10

to a single number; see whether n is

positive or negative.
a) If n is positive,shift the decimal point n places to the right.
b) If n is negative, shift the decimal point n places to the left.
31.
32.
Example: Express the following as a single number.
2

a)

7.068 10 =706.8

b)

2.3 10 =230 000

c)

8.325 101=0.8325

d)

6.009 104 =0.0006009

33.
34. EXERCISE
1. Express the following numbers in the standard form.
a)
5 008
b)
816 000
c)
130.06
d)
6287.40
35.
2. Express the following numbers in the standard form.
a) 0.0003708
b) 0.27385
c) 0.009
d) 0.05003
36.
3. Express the following as single numbers.

a)

4.83 10

b)

7.1369 10

c)

8.3 10

d)

9.5 106

37.
4. Rewrite each of the following in the standard form.
a)

309.6 102

b)

0.00387 105

c)

0.062 103

d)

8200 106

38.
5. A rectangle is

4.5 10 m

by

8 10 m . Calculate its area in

m .

Express

your answer in the standard form.

39.
6. The length, breadth and height of a cuboid are 80 cm, 50 cm and 40 cm respectively.
Calculate its volume in

m2 . Express your answer in the standard form.

40.
7. The distance from the earth to the sun is
8

3 10 ms .

1.5 1011 m.

the speed of light is

Find the time in seconds for the light to travel from the sun to the

earth. Give your answer in the standard form.

41.
8. Convert the volume of

250 m3 cm 3 . Convert your answer in the standard form.

42.
9. The scale of a map is given as 1: 500 000. Write in the standard form, the actual
distance in km, represented by 30 cm on the map.
43.
10.A computer can process

8 10

instructions in 1 second. Write in the standard form,

the number of instructions it can process in 1 hour.