Sig figs and qualitative v quantitative

In summary, the conversation discusses the use of parentheses in equations and how they do not affect significant figures. It also touches on the distinction between quantitative and qualitative measurements, with the understanding that anything with a number attached is considered quantitative, while qualitative measurements involve characteristics such as smell and color.
  • #1
t5nitro
1
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Hi, if an equation has parentheses attached, do you solve what is inside and then look at this sig figs to tell you the amount in the answer or not? For example, if I had (0.3991 - .02) / 100. would the answer have 1 significant figure (the .02).


I also had a question with quantitative vs qualitative measurements. Would anything with a number attached be considered quantitative? Would quantitative be saying that for example, carbon makes up X% of the body would as well as maybe carbon's atomic mass is also quantitative? And a qualitative would be smell, color etc.?

Thanks
 
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  • #2
t5nitro said:
Hi, if an equation has parentheses attached, do you solve what is inside and then look at this sig figs to tell you the amount in the answer or not? For example, if I had (0.3991 - .02) / 100. would the answer have 1 significant figure (the .02).

Parentheses are not important here, what is more important is the fact that sigfig rules for addition and subtraction are a little bit different.

I also had a question with quantitative vs qualitative measurements. Would anything with a number attached be considered quantitative? Would quantitative be saying that for example, carbon makes up X% of the body would as well as maybe carbon's atomic mass is also quantitative? And a qualitative would be smell, color etc.?

Qualitative measurement?
 

1. What are significant figures and why are they important in science?

Significant figures, also known as significant digits, are the digits in a number that represent the precision or certainty of a measurement. They are important in science because they help scientists communicate the accuracy of their measurements and prevent misleading or false data from being reported.

2. How do you determine the number of significant figures in a measurement?

The general rule for determining the number of significant figures is to start from the left and count all digits from the first non-zero digit to the right, including any zeros in between. For example, in the measurement 0.00521, there are three significant figures.

3. What is the difference between qualitative and quantitative data?

Qualitative data is descriptive and based on observations, while quantitative data is numerical and based on measurements or counting. Qualitative data is often used to gather information about the characteristics or qualities of a subject, while quantitative data is used to analyze and make predictions based on numerical data.

4. How do significant figures and precision relate to each other?

Precision refers to the level of detail or exactness in a measurement, while significant figures indicate the level of accuracy in a measurement. The more significant figures a measurement has, the more precise it is. For example, a measurement of 10.25 has more precision than a measurement of 10.

5. Can significant figures be used in both qualitative and quantitative data?

Yes, significant figures can be used in both types of data. In qualitative data, significant figures are used to communicate the precision of a measurement or observation. In quantitative data, significant figures are used to indicate the accuracy of a measurement and can also help determine the level of precision in a calculation.

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