Activity B: Significant figures and rounding

For general information about the activities, and an overview of those currently available, see the Teacher discussion activities page.

The activity

How should the results of calculations be rounded to an appropriate number of significant figures? Are there rules that can be applied or is it a matter of judgement?

Teacher Activity B: Significant figures and rounding

Further information about the issues raised by this activity can be found in the guidance booklet as described below.

What is in the guidance?

The guidance booklet is published on the ASE website and can be directly downloaded from here:

The Language of Mathematics in Science: A Guide for Teachers
of 11-16 Science

Discussion of the key ideas that are relevant to this activity can be found in the guidance booklet on the following pages:

• Section 2.3  Rounding and significant figures (pp 16-18)