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Quizzes > Science > Chemistry

Test Your Skills in Adding & Subtracting Significant Figures

Practice addition in significant figures and subtraction - start your quiz!

Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration for sig figs addition and subtraction quiz on sky blue background

Are you ready to master sig figs addition and subtraction? This free quiz is your chance to test your knowledge of addition in significant figures and brush up on significant figures for subtraction - perfect for honing your sig fig for addition skills and discovering how to add and subtract with significant figures like a pro. Ideal for chemistry students, lab technicians, or anyone who loves precision, you'll tackle real-world problems, sharpen your rounding techniques, and build confidence. You'll get instant feedback, step-by-step explanations, and targeted tips to improve your accuracy from question to question. Dive in now for hands-on practice problems and subtraction challenges that make learning fun!

What is the sum of 12.3 and 0.456, reported with the correct number of significant figures?
12.7
12.8
12.76
12.75
When adding or subtracting, the result is rounded to the least number of decimal places among the terms. 12.3 has one decimal place, while 0.456 has three. So the sum 12.756 is rounded to one decimal place as 12.8. Source
What is 2.345 minus 1.2, expressed with the correct significant figures?
1.14
1.15
1.1
1.145
Subtraction uses the least number of decimal places among the values: 2.345 has three decimal places, 1.2 has one. 2.345 ? 1.2 = 1.145, rounded to one decimal place gives 1.1. Source
Calculate 0.0045 + 0.00067 with the correct number of decimal places.
0.00517
0.0052
0.0051
0.00520
Align decimals and use the least decimal places: 0.0045 has four places, 0.00067 has five. Sum = 0.00517, rounded to four decimal places is 0.0052. Source
What is the result of adding 100. and 2.345, using proper decimal-place accuracy?
102
102.3
102.35
102.345
100. has zero decimal places, and 2.345 has three. Their sum is 102.345, rounded to zero decimal places gives 102. Source
Subtract 3.456 from 5.0 and report with correct precision.
1.54
1.5
1.544
1.6
5.0 has one decimal place; 3.456 has three. The raw difference is 1.544; rounding to one decimal place yields 1.5. Source
Add 1.23 and 4.1 with appropriate significant-figure rules.
5.33
5.30
5.3
5.4
1.23 has two decimal places; 4.1 has one. Sum = 5.33, rounded to one decimal place is 5.3. Source
What is 0.12 + 0.8, reported correctly?
0.92
0.920
0.9
0.90
0.12 has two decimal places; 0.8 has one. Sum = 0.92, rounded to one decimal place is 0.9. Source
Add 15.67 and 0 (an exact number). What is the result with correct precision?
15.67
15.7
15.670
15.6
Exact numbers (like 0) do not limit precision. The result retains the decimal places of 15.67. So the answer is 15.67. Source
What is the sum of 0.00230 and 0.0011 with proper decimal-place rounding?
0.00340
0.0034
0.00330
0.0035
0.00230 has five decimal places, 0.0011 has four; use four decimal places. Sum = 0.00340, rounded to four places is 0.0034. Source
Calculate 10.00 minus 9.111, reporting the result correctly.
0.889
0.89
0.9
0.890
10.00 has two decimal places, 9.111 has three; use two decimal places. Difference = 0.889, rounded to two places is 0.89. Source
What is 1.250 + 2.5 + 3.05, with correct significant-figure rules applied?
6.805
6.80
6.8
6.81
Decimal places: 1.250 (3), 2.5 (1), 3.05 (2). Use one decimal place. Sum = 6.80, rounded to one place is 6.8. Source
Add 123.4 and 0.0567; what is the correct result?
123.46
123.5
123.4567
123.45
Decimal places: 123.4 (1), 0.0567 (4). Use one decimal place. Sum = 123.4567, rounded to one place gives 123.5. Source
What is 2.0 ? 0.3456 reported correctly?
1.6544
1.65
1.7
1.654
Decimal places: 2.0 (1), 0.3456 (4). Use one decimal place. Difference = 1.6544, rounded to one place is 1.7. Source
Perform (1.2 + 2.34) ? 0.12 and report to proper precision.
3.54
3.42
3.4
3.42
First 1.2+2.34=3.54, use one decimal place (3.5). Then 3.5?0.12 with one decimal place gives 3.4. Source
What is the sum of 0.500 and 1.003 with correct decimal places?
1.503
1.50
1.5
1.5030
Both have three decimal places, so keep three. Sum = 1.503. Source
Calculate 7.89 + 0.011 + 0.4567 with proper sig-fig rounding.
8.3577
8.36
8.358
8.4
Decimal places: 7.89 (2), 0.011 (3), 0.4567 (4). Use two decimal places. Sum = 8.3577, rounded to two places is 8.36. Source
What is 12.345 + 0.67 + 0.0045, reported correctly?
13.0195
13.02
13.019
13.0
Decimal places: 12.345 (3), 0.67 (2), 0.0045 (4). Use two decimal places. Sum = 13.0195, rounded to two places is 13.02. Source
Compute (20.0 ? 0.345) + 1.23 with correct decimal places.
21.0
20.93
20.9
20.8
20.0?0.345=19.655, use one decimal place ? 19.7. Then 19.7+1.23, use one decimal ? 20.93 rounds to 20.9. Source
What is 100.5 + 2.345 ? 3.456 with proper rounding?
99.344
99.34
99.300
99.3
100.5+2.345=102.845 (one decimal ?102.8). Then 102.8?3.456=99.344, rounding to one decimal gives 99.3. Source
Add 0.1234, 1.2, and 3.45; report the result correctly.
4.7734
4.8
4.77
4.77
Decimal places: 0.1234 (4), 1.2 (1), 3.45 (2). Use one decimal place. Sum = 4.7734, rounded to one place is 4.8. Source
What is 2.34 minus 5.678, with proper significant-figure rounding?
-3.338
-3.340
-3.34
-3.3
Decimal places: 2.34 (2), 5.678 (3). Use two decimal places. Difference = -3.338, rounded to two places is -3.34. Source
Add 0.005678 and 0.00012 with correct decimal-place accuracy.
0.005798
0.00580
0.0058
0.00579
Decimal places: 0.005678 (6), 0.00012 (5). Use five places. Sum = 0.005798, rounded to five places is 0.00580. Source
What is (5.00 + 0.200) ? (3.0 + 1.234) with proper rounding?
1.00
1.0
1.000
1
5.00+0.200=5.200 (two decimals?5.20); 3.0+1.234=4.234 (one decimal?4.2). Then 5.20?4.2=1.00, reported with two decimals is 1.00. Source
What is the sum of 0.004560, 0.02340, and 1.200 with correct precision?
1.2280
1.228
1.22796
1.23
Decimal places: 0.004560 (6), 0.02340 (5), 1.200 (3). Use three decimal places. Sum = 1.2280, rounded to three places gives 1.228. Source
Compute (1000 ? 1.25) + 0.007, using correct decimal-place rules.
999
999.007
998.8
998.757
1000 has zero decimal places; subtracting 1.25 ? 998.75 rounds to 0 decimal places = 999. Then adding 0.007 (three decimals) keeps zero decimal places: 999. Source
0
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Study Outcomes

  1. Understand Sig Fig Addition Rules -

    Learn how to determine the correct number of significant figures when adding measurements by identifying decimal place limitations.

  2. Apply Proper Rounding Techniques -

    Practice rounding sums to the appropriate decimal place based on the least precise measurement in your calculations.

  3. Analyze Sig Fig Subtraction Scenarios -

    Examine subtraction problems to ensure the result reflects the precision dictated by the original data.

  4. Perform Real-World Calculations -

    Use addition and subtraction with significant figures to solve applied examples, reinforcing how to add and subtract with significant figures.

  5. Evaluate Calculation Precision -

    Assess the accuracy of results by checking that the correct rules of significant figures for subtraction and addition are followed.

  6. Build Confidence with Quiz Practice -

    Test your mastery through targeted questions, boosting your skill in sig figs addition and subtraction.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Align Decimal Points and Identify the Least Precise Value -

    In sig figs addition and subtraction, always line up the decimal points before calculating and find the measurement with the fewest decimal places; this dictates your final precision. For instance, when adding 12.11 + 18.0 + 1.013, the least precise value has one decimal place, so round your result to one decimal place (31.1) per NIST guidelines.

  2. Use Decimal Places, Not Significant Digits, for Rounding -

    Unlike multiplication or division, addition in significant figures focuses on decimal places rather than total sig figs. Always round your sum or difference to the same number of decimal places as the measurement with the fewest decimals, ensuring accuracy in scientific reporting.

  3. Apply the Final Rounding Rule Mindfully -

    When you calculate the exact sum or difference, save rounding until the end to maintain precision - this is key to mastering sig fig for addition. A handy mnemonic is "Left's Least, Round Fast": look left to the least precise decimal place, then round your final answer based on that position.

  4. Convert to Scientific Notation for Consistency -

    For clear guidance on how to add and subtract with significant figures, rewrite each value in scientific notation first; match exponents, perform the operation, then round by decimal-place rules. This method from university chemistry guidelines simplifies complex additions like (3.45×10^2)+(2.1×10^2)=5.55×10^2, rounded to 5.6×10^2.

  5. Watch for Ambiguous Trailing Zeros -

    Trailing zeros in a whole number can hide true precision - clarify by adding a decimal point or switching to scientific notation when practicing significant figures for subtraction or addition. For example, stating 1500 as 1.500×10^3 (per UC Berkeley standards) shows four significant digits and avoids confusion in subsequent calculations.

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