What Are Significant Figures?
Significant figures (sig figs) are the digits in a number that carry meaningful information about its precision. All non-zero digits are significant; zeros between non-zero digits are significant; leading zeros are not; and trailing zeros are significant only when there is a decimal point.
Examples
4,507 has 4 significant figures; 0.0032 has 2; 2.50 has 3; and 1,200 has 2 unless written with a decimal point or in scientific notation as 1.200 × 10³.
Rounding Results
In measurement calculations, results are commonly rounded to reflect the precision of the least precise input.
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Last updated: September 29, 2026. This definition is for general educational purposes only. It is not financial, investment, tax, legal, or medical advice, and it does not recommend any product or course of action. For decisions about your own situation, consult a qualified professional.