Hey, when we solve for significant figures, why do we completely get rid of the remaining decimals even though hey have more accurate information?
Ex. 1.23*4.84=5.9532 but we would make it 5.95 based on Sig figs, even though those last two decimals are closer to the answer. Why is this? I know it’s less accurate, though it seems like we’re losing valuable accuracy (even if it’s not perfect, it should be closer)
In: Mathematics
If it’s pure math, you can keep those digits.
If it’s anything applied, like a measurement, then you can’t keep those digits because you don’t actually know that precision. Your measurement tool is accurate to X.xx; how can it possibly verify that the math is correct to X.xxxx? This is to prevent mathematics from creating an impossible situation, where a mathematically derived precision is unreachable by physical means.
In some fields of engineering, you can’t go ahead if you measure something is 3.79 but the specification requires 3.790. You need to meet/match specification, and specifications can only be as accurate as the measurement tools used to derive them.
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