Significant figures — 153 discussions

A quick question about uncertainties and significant figures: Say, we have some numbers with a particular uncertainty 0.1 of each of them. What happens if the sum of these numbers has a greater amount of significant figures than each of the numbers alone? For instance, 1.01 + 9.99 = 11.0...

I'm a little confused about significant figures. It is my understanding that if when you add or subtract two numbers that the result should have as many decimal places as the term with the least amount of decimal places. For example: 1.55 + 2.666 + 20.23 = 24.446 -> 24.45 Since 1.55 and...

Hello, I've found this question in my book and I'm interested to know how to solve this problem. Can anyone help? _____ A sidewalk is to be constructed around a swimming pool that measures (10.0 +- 0.1 )m by (17.0 +- 0.1)m. If the side walk is to measure (1.00 +- 0.01)m wide by (9.0 +- 0.1) cm...