Understanding Significant Figures: A Brief Explanation

Explanation:

Significant figures are an important concept in mathematics and science to determine the accuracy and precision of a numerical value. When rounding off a number to a certain number of significant figures, we need to consider certain rules to ensure the correctness of the result.

In the case of rounding 1.235 to 3 significant figures, we look at the digit after the third significant figure, which is 5. Since 5 is equal to or greater than 5, the third significant digit, which is 3, is increased by 1 to become 4. Therefore, the number rounded to 3 significant figures is 1.24.

Significant figures are used to represent the precision of a number. They give meaning to the digits present and help avoid misinterpretation of numerical values. Understanding significant figures is crucial in various scientific fields, including chemistry, physics, and engineering.

Rules for determining significant figures:

1. All non-zero digits are considered significant.
2. Zeroes between non-zero digits are also significant.
3. Zeroes to the left and right of a non-zero digit are not significant.
4. Zeroes on the right of a decimal point are significant if followed by a non-zero digit.
5. Zeroes on the right side of a non-zero digit are also significant.

By applying these rules, we can identify the correct number of significant figures in a numerical value and ensure accurate calculations and measurements.