Significant Figures: Why Are They Relevant?

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Significant Figures: Why Are They Relevant?

Zeros reported by an analyzer, or as part of a calculation, are a point of concern as they may represent part of the measurement precision or be merely a placeholder to define a number. Significant figure rules help to define whether these zeros are part of the measurement or are simply a placeholder. Once these rules are applied, the entire number of significant figures can be identified and used to determine the final number.