If a measured quantity is written correctly, which digits are cer...

Question

If a measured quantity is written correctly, which digits are certain?

Accepted Answer

Welcome back everyone. How should a measurement be reported with the correct number of significant figures? Choice A states that only the estimated digits are included. Choice B states that only the digits that have been measured are included. Choice C states that all of the digits that are measured are included plus an additional estimated digit and choice D states that only the exact or whole number of digits are included. Let's recall that when within a measured value, we not only will include our measured units which ensure precision and accuracy of our measurement, but we will also include at least one uncertain digit or decimal place. And this will ensure that we also take into account any degree of uncertainty within the measurement so that we include for a best guess or eyeball estimate within our degree of certainty from our measured units as well. So that allows us to rule out choices A and B which exclude either estimated digits included in significant figures or only the measured values being included. We need, we know we need both to be included for proper reporting of significant figures. For a measurement. We can also rule out choice D because it says only the exact or whole number of digits are included. And as we noted down, we can also include a decimal place for accounting for uncertainty within a measurement. So this leaves us with choice C which states that all the digits that are measured are included plus an additional estimated digit, which would be our final answer to best explain how a measurement should be reported with the correct number of sick figs. So I hope that this made sense and let us know if you have any questions.

If a measured quantity is written correctly, which digits are certain?

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