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Significant Figures (Simplified) definitions

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  • Exact Number
    A value obtained by counting or definition, known with complete certainty and without any uncertainty.
  • Inexact Number
    A value derived from measurement or calculation, carrying some degree of uncertainty.
  • Significant Figures
    Digits in a value that reflect the precision of a measurement, including all certain digits and the first uncertain digit.
  • Precision
    The degree to which repeated measurements under unchanged conditions show the same results.
  • Uncertainty
    The doubt that exists about the result of any measurement, arising from limitations in measurement tools or technique.
  • Decimal Point
    A symbol used to separate the whole number part from the fractional part in a number, affecting how significant figures are counted.
  • Scientific Notation
    A method of expressing numbers as a coefficient multiplied by a power of ten, simplifying the handling of very large or small values.
  • Coefficient
    The numerical part of a value in scientific notation, containing all the significant figures of the number.
  • Exponent
    The power of ten in scientific notation, indicating how many times the coefficient is multiplied or divided by ten.
  • Measurement
    The process of determining the size, length, or amount of something, often resulting in inexact numbers.
  • Counting Number
    A whole number obtained by enumerating objects, always considered exact with infinite significant figures.
  • Standard Notation
    The typical way of writing numbers without exponents, as opposed to scientific notation.
  • Whole Number
    A non-fractional value, often associated with exact numbers in counting or definitions.
  • Rule
    A guideline for determining the number of significant figures based on the presence or absence of a decimal point.