Take a look at this link. It does a good job of explaining why the significant figure rules are the way they are. However, I cannot say that these rules are "official" since they are not on the Official Science Olympiad website.SWAnG wrote:Thanks! I'm assuming we use the multiplication/division rules for exponents and logarithms then?chalker wrote:SO has an official SigFig policy on the website at: http://soinc.org/sites/default/files/up ... 2-5-12.pdfSWAnG wrote:For exponents and logarithims there is a special rule for sig figs. Are we expected to utilize this or not?
Significant Figure Rules for Logarithms: When you take the log of a number with N significant figures, the result should have N decimal places. The number in front of the decimal place indicates only the order of magnitude. It is not a significant figure.
Significant Figure Rules for Exponents: When raising 10 to a power: If the power of 10 has N decimal places, the result should have N significant figures. The rule for raising e to a power is similar.