Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: significant digits
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
In experimental work and instrument reading, communicating how trustworthy a number is matters as much as the number itself. Significant digits (also called significant figures) encode the certainty of a measurement and the resolution of the measuring instrument, guiding rounding and propagation of uncertainty in calculations.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
Significant digits are all nonzero digits, zeros between nonzero digits, and trailing zeros in a decimal number; leading zeros are not significant. They reflect measurement resolution and should be preserved through calculations according to established rules for addition/subtraction and multiplication/division to avoid overstating certainty.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Verification / Alternative check:
Cross-check with instrument specifications: if a digital multimeter is 3.5 digits, its last displayed digit is the least significant and often the estimated/uncertain one, consistent with significant-digit rules.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Common Pitfalls:
Carrying too many digits through computations (false precision) or rounding too early, which can distort results. Round at the end, respecting the weakest measurement's significant digits.
Final Answer:
significant digits
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