Significant Figures Math

Math Functions and Sig Figs

Addition & Subtraction

Example:

150.7 + 0.27 = 150.97 → 151.0

You Try:

123.6 + 0.321 =

0.21 + 3.2 =

3.25 + 7 =

Multiplication & Division

Example

5.761 x 6.20 = 35.7182 →

You Try

6.62 x 2.5 =

4.6354 x 5.621 =

Scientific Notation

A way to simplify very large or

very small numbers

Scientific Notation

M x 10n

• M is a number between 1 and 10

• n is an integer

• All digits in M are significant

Putting #s in Scientific Notation

➢Move decimal so that M is between 1 and 10

➢Determine n by counting the number of places the

decimal point was moved
Moved to the left, n is positive
Moved to the right, n is negative

➢Examples:

123000 →
0.000003265 →
302 x 10-8 →
.004 x 106→

A note about calculators…

• YOU MUST PUT THE WHOLE NUMBER IN

PARENTHESIS OR THE CALCULATION WILL BE
INCORRECT (SOMETIMES)

MATH & SCIENTIFIC NOTATION

• Addition and Subtraction

– Operations can only be done if the exponent on

each number is the same

– M factors are added or subtracted
– Exponents stay the same

• Examples (NO CALCULATORS)

4.2 x 10-2 + 3.1 x 10-2

4.2 x 10-2 - 3.1 x 10-2

6.0 x 10-3 + 5.5 x 10-4

• Multiplication

– M factors are multiplied
– Exponents are added

• Examples

(4.0 x 10-2) x (3.0 x 10-4)

(8.0 x 105) x (2.0 x 10-1)

• Division

– M factors are divided
– Exponents are subtracted (numerator –

denominator)

• Examples

(8.0 x 105)
(4.0 x 102)

(12.0 x 104)
(4.0 x 10-3)