Significant Figures Video
October 25th, 2007 by David Bradley >> 4 Comments
This neat little video explains the importance of significant figures, rounding, accuracy and precision. Find out why adding a single drop of water (of about 0.05 ml) to a cup of coffee that is about 200 ml should never be written as 200.05 ml
It’s all about the errors and the significance of the digits in each measurement. The video also provides a useful introduction to scientific notation and underpins the origins of the Sig Figs website you are reading now, because so many times the news and other media don’t seem to understand significant digits and get it wrong again and again. Just check out the archives to see exactly what I mean!
By the way, there’s an online significant figures calculator here It works very well and has a nice example to help you. As it’s fairly new, please let me know how you get on with it in the comments below.
"Deceived Wisdom: Why What You Thought Was Right Is Wrong" from David Bradley. Available now on 
Leave a comment ↓
Arjun // Sep 7, 2008 at 10:34 pm
Great! I’d forgotten many aspects of significant figures, I got it all back. The explanation started with a cup of coffee that was very thought driving.
David Bradley // Sep 8, 2008 at 8:19 am
Glad to be of service Arjun.
K. // Sep 26, 2008 at 3:21 am
You’re an excellent teacher! It was much easier to understand the way you explained than how we learned it in class! Do you have any videos on how to do multi-step problems/problems with both addition/subtraction AND multiplication/division??? That would really help me out a ton!!!
David Bradley // Sep 26, 2008 at 7:42 am
Is this the kind of thing?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDjzKzSWSM8