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GCSE Combined Science · key term
A digit counted when expressing the precision of a number. Counting starts at the first non-zero digit and includes zeros between significant digits and trailing decimal zeros.
Used by Edexcel
Paper 5, Paper 6
Revise: Units and standard formSignificant figures are counted from the first non-zero digit. All non-zero digits count, and zeros between them count too. Thus 108 has three significant figures, while 0.012 has two: the initial zeros only locate the decimal point.
Keep unrounded values during a calculation and round the final answer. Follow any stated instruction about significant figures.
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