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Note: Doing Math With Significant Figures So in water, one wavelength of a 52 Hz whale call is 28 meters long. In this case 52 has the fewest number of significant digits, so you should round the final answer to 2 sig figs.Ģ8.4615384 meters rounded to 2 sig figs = 28 meters. \( \lambda = \dfrac \)įollowing the rules for doing multiplication and division with significant figures you should round your final answer to the fewest number of significant figures given your original numbers.Then divide this number by 52 Hz to get the wavelength of the sound wave. For this physics problem you have to multiply velocity of the speed of sound in air by 4.3148688 to get the velocity of the speed of sound in water. So wavelength equals velocity divided by frequency. Given that the sound of speed travels 4.3148688 times faster in water than in air, what is the wavelength of the 52 Hz whale call? We know that sound travels in air at about 343 meters per second. Round the answer to the fewest number of significant figures that you found in step 1Įxample: Multiplying and Dividing with Significant FiguresĪ word problem on a physics test goes like this: Marine scientists have identified a unique whale who calls at 52 hertz.Multiply and/or divide the numbers in your calculation as you normally would.For each number in your calculation find the number of significant figures.Rules for Multiplying and Dividing with Significant Figures

So following the rules of addition with significant figures you report that your latte is 9 oz. rounded to the ones place = 9 oz.Īlthough you have a volume of fluids that seems accurate to the thousandths, you have to round to the ones place because that is the least significant place value. Your milk and espresso are each one significant digit in volume, in the ones place.Īdding the volumes of fluid in your latte you have:ħ oz. Reviewing the rules for adding and subtracting with significant figures, find the place position of the last significant digit of your least certain number. But because this is a chemistry lab assignment you have to do your math with significant figures. You steam and froth your milk, and the steamer indicator says 0.063 oz. You make your espresso and see that you've pulled the perfect 2 oz. Finally, your high tech milk steamer tells you how much water is used in the steaming process, out to 3 decimal places. of milk, and your espresso machine uses 2.5 oz. Round the answer to the place position of least significance that you found in step 1Įxample: Adding and Subtracting with Significant FiguresĪ step in your "Let's Make a Latte" chemistry lab assignment requires that you account for the volume of fluids in your latte.Add and/or subtract the numbers in your calculation as you normally would.