Significant Figures Calculator
Calculate the number of significant figures in any number. Get detailed visualization, explanations, and download your results.
How to Use:
- Enter any number (positive or negative)
- Include decimal points for precision
- Click "Calculate" to see results
- Green digits are significant figures
Calculation Result
5
Significant Figures
Significant Figures Visualization
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1
Significant
2
Significant
0
.
4
Significant
5
Significant
0
Significant
Explanation
For the number 120.450:
- All non-zero digits (1, 2, 4, 5) are always significant
- The trailing zero after the decimal is significant
- The zero between 1 and 2 is significant (trapped between non-zero digits)
- The zero between 2 and 4 is not significant (leading zero after decimal)
Frequently Asked Questions
What are significant figures?
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Significant figures are the digits in a number that contribute to its precision. They include all non-zero digits, zeros between significant digits, and trailing zeros in a decimal number.
How do I count significant figures?
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Follow these rules:
- All non-zero digits are always significant (1-9)
- Zeros between non-zero digits are significant (e.g., 101 has 3 sig figs)
- Leading zeros are never significant (e.g., 0.002 has 1 sig fig)
- Trailing zeros are significant only if the number has a decimal point (e.g., 100.0 has 4 sig figs, 100 has 1 sig fig)
Are trailing zeros significant?
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Trailing zeros are significant only if the number contains a decimal point. For example:
- 1200 has 2 significant figures (only 1 and 2 are significant)
- 1200.0 has 5 significant figures (all digits are significant because of the decimal point)
How does this calculator work?
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Our calculator analyzes your input number according to the rules of significant figures. It:
- Parses your input number
- Identifies all significant digits based on standard rules
- Counts the number of significant figures
- Generates a visual representation highlighting significant digits
- Provides a detailed explanation of the result