Which term refers to the digits in a decimal number that carry meaning contributing to the precision or accuracy?

Which term refers to the digits in a decimal number that carry meaning contributing to the precision or accuracy?

• A. Calipers
• B. Prototype
• C. Significant Digits
• D. Mode

Answer: (C)

Significant digits are the digits in a measurement that carry meaning about how precise that measurement is. They include all digits that contribute to accuracy, starting with the first nonzero digit and including any zeros that indicate precision (such as zeros between digits or trailing zeros after a decimal point). For example, a measurement written as 12.30 m has four significant digits, reflecting precision to the hundredth of a meter; the trailing zero after the decimal shows that the measurement was made with that level of detail. Contrast this with the other terms: calipers are a measuring tool, a prototype is an early model used to test a design, and the mode is a statistical term for the most frequently occurring value. The idea of significant digits is what tells you how precise or accurate a measurement is and how to report it consistently.

Significant digits are the digits in a measurement that carry meaning about how precise that measurement is. They include all digits that contribute to accuracy, starting with the first nonzero digit and including any zeros that indicate precision (such as zeros between digits or trailing zeros after a decimal point). For example, a measurement written as 12.30 m has four significant digits, reflecting precision to the hundredth of a meter; the trailing zero after the decimal shows that the measurement was made with that level of detail. Contrast this with the other terms: calipers are a measuring tool, a prototype is an early model used to test a design, and the mode is a statistical term for the most frequently occurring value. The idea of significant digits is what tells you how precise or accurate a measurement is and how to report it consistently.