I've have several physics and chem books which attempt define the term "significant figures".
Unfortunately, the rules seem to be rather vague (they read like the IRS tax code) and I'm still not completely clear what actually constitutes a significant digit. My understanding is that significant figures refer to the known accuracy of each digit to the right of the decimal point.
For example, if a caliper in a machine shop can accurately measure to 1/1000 of an inch and it measures the diameter of a shaft as being 2.987 inches, then 9,8, and 7 are to the right of the decimal point and considered as significant figures. However if the same shaft is measured with caliper accurate to 1/10,000 of an inch and it indicates 2.9870 inches, then the last zero is also a significant figure.
So can anyone provide an answer to my question (in their own words rather than posting a link)?
Unfortunately, the rules seem to be rather vague (they read like the IRS tax code) and I'm still not completely clear what actually constitutes a significant digit. My understanding is that significant figures refer to the known accuracy of each digit to the right of the decimal point.
For example, if a caliper in a machine shop can accurately measure to 1/1000 of an inch and it measures the diameter of a shaft as being 2.987 inches, then 9,8, and 7 are to the right of the decimal point and considered as significant figures. However if the same shaft is measured with caliper accurate to 1/10,000 of an inch and it indicates 2.9870 inches, then the last zero is also a significant figure.
So can anyone provide an answer to my question (in their own words rather than posting a link)?