Significant Figures and Measurements

• Reporting of significant figures in an answer is dependent on the precision of the measured values given in the problem or determined by the precision of the glassware or laboratory equipment used.
• Conversion factors are treated as “exact” values.
• Exact values are measurements that have an infinite number of significant figures.
• Examples
• 1 in = 2.54 cm
• 100 pennies = $1
• 12 pieces = 1 dozen