Significant Figures Calculations
Solve the following mathematical problems such that the answers have the correct number of
significant figures:
1)
334.54 grams + 198 grams =
2)
34.1 grams / 1.1 mL =
3)
2.11 x 103 joules / 34 seconds =
4)
0.0010 meters – 0.11 meters =
5)
349 cm + 1.10 cm + 100 cm =
6)
450 meters / 114 seconds =
7)
298.01 kilograms + 34.112 kilograms =
8)
84 m/s x 31.221 s =
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Significant Figures Calculations Answers
Solve the following mathematical problems such that the answers have the correct number of
significant figures:
A handy tip: Remember that addition/subtraction has different rules when doing
significant figure calculations than multiplication/division.
1)
334.54 grams + 198 grams = 533 grams. It is rounded from 532.42 grams because
“198 grams” is only precise to the nearest gram.
2)
34.1 grams / 1.1 mL = 31 g/mL (it's not rounded)
3)
2.11 x 103 joules / 34 seconds = 62 J/s (rounded from 62.0588 J/s because 34 seconds
has only two significant figures)
4)
0.0010 meters – 0.11 meters = -0.11 m (rounded from -0.109 m because 0.11 meters is
precise to the nearest 0.01 meters, forcing us to round to the same precision.)
5)
349 cm + 1.10 cm + 100 cm = 500 cm (rounded from 450.1 cm because 100 cm is
precise only to the nearest hundred cm)
6)
450 meters / 114 seconds = 3.9 m/s (rounded from 3.9474 m/s because 450 meters
has only two significant figures)
7)
298.01 kilograms + 34.112 kilograms = 332.12 kilograms (rounded from 332.122
kilograms because 298.01 kilograms is only precise to the nearest 0.01 kg).
8)
84 m/s x 31.221 s = 2600 m (rounded from 2622.564 m because 84 m/s has only two
significant figures).
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution - NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
More chemistry tutorials and practice can be found at www.chemfiesta.com.