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2.
Multiplication and Division
The number of significant figures in the
product or quotient
is equal to the number of
significant figures in the
measured value with the fewest significant figures.
Example:
mass of sample
4.126 g (four significant
figures)
volume of sample
1.62 mL (three significant figures)
mass
volume
=
4.126 g
1.62 mL
= 2.603 g mL
-1
The answer with the accepted number of
significant figures is 2.60 g/mL
(three significant figures). In
multiplication or division, the answer cannot contain more
significant figures than the number that
had the least significant figures.
3.
Logarithms
When converting a real number to a logarithmic
value, the number of decimal places in the
log value is equal
to the number of significant figures in the
original number.
Examples:
log 2.33 x 10
6
= 6.367
(three significant figures)
log 2.3 x 10
6
= 6.37
(two significant figures)
The reverse applies when converting from
log values to real numbers.
Example:
inverse log 3.777
= 5.98 x 10³
(three significant figures)
inverse log 3.77
= 6.0 x 10³
(two significant figures)
