Expressing the Uncertainty (Reproducibility) in Measured Quantities Using Significant Figures
was determined to be
2.2547 g .
measured on a balance designed to measure to the nearest 0.0001 g ,
To show the uncertainty in the measurement, the mass might be reported as 2.2547 ± 0.0001 g.
The mass may, however, be
simply written as 2.2547 g.
Of
the digits of the mass, the last digit
( i.e. the right most digit)
is understood to be uncertain ,,or approximate.
The precision of the measurement,
All digits presented in this fashion,
are
termed Significant
Figures.
including the one
uncertain digit,