Sig Fig Quiz
Questions: 16 · 10 minutes
1. Assuming the written decimal places reflect measurement resolution, which measurement is reported with the greatest precision?
2.3400 m
2.3 m
2.340 m
2 m
2. A researcher counts exactly 12 samples. How should the number 12 be treated in a significant-figures calculation?
As a measured value with two significant figures
As a measured value with one significant figure
As an exact quantity that does not limit significant figures
As a quantity with no significant figures
3. Each box has a measured mass of 2.50 kg. What total mass should be reported for exactly 3 boxes?
7.50 kg
7.5 kg
7.500 kg
8 kg
4. A student adds 12.11 g, 0.3 g, and 1.245 g. What result follows the decimal-place rule for addition?
13.655 g
13.66 g
13.65 g
13.7 g
5. A balance displays a mass as 100.20 g. Which statement correctly describes the zeros in this recorded measurement?
All three zeros are significant, so the value has five significant figures
Only the zero between 1 and 2 is significant, so the value has three significant figures
Only the final zero is significant, so the value has four significant figures
None of the zeros are significant, so the value has two significant figures
6. How many significant figures are in 0.00450?
4
2
3
5
7. How should 999.5 be written after rounding to three significant figures while clearly showing the intended precision?
1.00 × 10^3
1.0 × 10^3
999
1.000 × 10^3
8. Three measured temperatures are 10.2°C, 10.4°C, and 10.3°C. Treating the count of three readings as exact, how should their mean be reported?
10°C
10.3°C
10.30°C
10.300°C
9. Using significant-figure rules, how should 12.0 ÷ 4.00 be reported?
3
3.00
3.0
3.000
10. Using significant-figure rules, what is the properly reported result of 4.56 × 1.4?
6.38
6.4
6.384
6
11. A rectangle measures 2.35 cm by 1.2 cm. What area should be reported using significant-figure rules?
2.82 cm²
3 cm²
2.8 cm²
2.820 cm²
12. Which value contains exactly four significant figures?
0.0050
0.0100
0.02030
2.0300
13. A calculator is used to evaluate (4.68 × 2.3) ÷ 1.205. Which workflow best preserves accuracy while following significant-figure rules?
Round every input to one significant figure before calculating
Round the product to two significant figures and treat that rounded value as exact
Report every digit shown by the calculator because the values were entered exactly
Keep guard digits through the intermediate steps, then round the final result to two significant figures
14. A container has a mass of 20.00 g when full and 3.6 g when empty. How should the difference be reported?
16.400 g
16.40 g
16 g
16.4 g
15. Which normalized scientific-notation expression preserves all four significant figures in 0.0005600?
5.6 multiplied by 10 to the negative fourth power
5.600 multiplied by 10 to the negative fourth power
5.600 multiplied by 10 to the negative third power
5.600 multiplied by 10 to the positive fourth power
16. What is 0.007846 rounded to three significant figures?
0.0078460
0.00784
0.0078
0.00785