Question

what is significant figures

Answer 1

The significant figures (also known as the significant digits) of a number are digits that carry meaning contributing to its measurement resolution. This includes all digits except:[1]

All leading zeros;
Trailing zeros when they are merely placeholders to indicate the scale of the number (exact rules are explained at identifying significant figures); and
Spurious digits introduced, for example, by calculations carried out to greater precision than that of the original data, or measurements reported to a greater precision than the equipment supports.

Answer 2

Answer:

Rules for Significant Figures :-

-> All non-zero digits are significant

-> Any zeros between two significant digits are significant

-> A zero, trailing a significant figure after decimal are significant

When reducing to a given number of signifcant figures, we round off as required.

For example

a) 0.954 [1 SF]

-> 1

b) 0.00973 [2 SF]

-> 0.0097

c) 2.5728 [3 SF]

-> 2.57