Rounding decimals to significant figures
I can round decimals to a required number of significant figures.
Rounding decimals to significant figures
I can round decimals to a required number of significant figures.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Numbers bigger than 1 with decimals places can be rounded to significant figures.
- When working with numbers smaller than one it is important to carefully identify the first significant figure.
- Once the first significant figure is identified you can find any significant figure.
- It is important to know when zeros are and are not significant.
Keywords
Significant figure - Significant figures are the digits in a number that contribute to the accuracy of the number. The first significant figure is the first non-zero digit.
Round - To change a number into another number that is approximately the same value but is easier to work with. E.g. round 561 to the nearest 10 is 560.
Common misconception
Assuming all zero digits are not significant.
Designing questions that contain zero digits in a variety of positions.
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
5 is the second significant figure
5 is the fourth significant figure
5 is the first significant figure
5 is the fifth significant figure
5 is the third significant figure
Exit quiz
6 Questions
5 is the first significant figure
2 is the first significant figure
4 is the first significant figure
7 is the first significant figure
3 is the first significant figure