Significant Figures Calculator

Round a number to a specified number of significant figures. Essential for scientific calculations and measurement reporting.

Rounded

123,500.0000000000

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Significant Figures

Rules for Counting Significant Figures

1. All nonzero digits are significant (123 has 3 sig figs) 2. Zeros between nonzero digits are significant (102 has 3) 3. Leading zeros are NOT significant (0.0045 has 2) 4. Trailing zeros after a decimal point ARE significant (2.50 has 3) 5. Trailing zeros without a decimal point are ambiguous (1500 could be 2, 3, or 4)

Rounding to n Significant Figures

1. Find the first significant digit 2. Count n digits from there 3. Round at that position

Example Calculation

Round 123456.789 to 4 significant figures.

  1. 01The first significant digit is 1
  2. 02Count 4 digits: 1, 2, 3, 4
  3. 03The next digit (5) rounds up
  4. 04Result: 123500

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