How Many Significant Figures Are There in the Number 3.1400?

In mathematics, significant figures are non-zero digits excluding leading and trailing zeros. To determine how many significant figures are in a number, count all the non-zero digits on the left side of the decimal. In addition, count the trailing zeros after the decimal. For example, the number 3.1400 is significant. In this case, it means that the measurement is precise to 4 decimal places.

3.548 x 10 3

The number 3.1400 has 3.548 significant figures, making it a prime number. The least significant digit is two. The remaining digits are not significant. The number must contain at least one doubtful digit. However, it is not always possible to have a single doubtful digit in the number.

The significant figures rules must be followed when performing multiplication and division calculations. In multi-step calculations, you may round the number at each step, or at the end. In exact numbers, you must always round the first discarded digit to the nearest multiple of five. If the number is less than five digits, round the second digit to the next higher significant figure.

In general, the most significant digit is the first non-zero digit. Counting significant figures starts from the FIRST non-zero digit, and ends with the LAST non-zero digit. It is possible to have three significant figures in a number, although the first two zeros are not significant.