Significant
Figures
Example Sig. Digits Sci-Notation 1 All
non-zero digits are significant 1.589 4 1.589E+00 0.897 3 8.97E-01 36000 2 3.6E+04 2 Significant
Zero's a All
sandwiched zero's 13.02 4 1.302E+01 1.0002 5 1.0002E+00 10.5 3 1.05E+01 b All
trailing zero's preceded by a digit 5.000 4 5.000E+00 to
the right of the decimal point. 20.000 5 2.00000E+01 15.00 4 1.500E+01 3 Non-significant
Zero's a Leading
Zeros 0.0200 3 2.00E-02 0067 2 6.7E+01 b Trailing
Zero's to the left of the decimal 56000 2 5.6E+04 point
in a number without a decimal 1360 3 1.36E+03 point *NOTE:
Write the numbers in exponential notation if you have any doubt. All zeros used to indicate the power of 10 (order of
magnitude) are not significant.
Rounding
Off
1 If
the last digit to be retained in a number is followed by a number less
than 5 (<5), ROUND
DOWN. Round
to 3 significant figures: 28.23 rounds to 28.2 578.1 rounds to 578 2 If
the last digit to be retained in a number is followed by a number greater
than 5 (>5), ROUND
UP. Round
to 2 significant figures: 5.998 rounds to 6.0 0.00258 rounds to 0.0026 3.6502 rounds to 3.7 3 If
the last digit to be retained in a number is followed by 5 (0000000…
implied), ROUND the last digit
retained to an EVEN NUMBER. Round
to 2 significant figures: 1.75 rounds to 1.8 1.050 rounds to 1.0 1.45 rounds to 1.4 Round
to 4 significant figures: 67.835 rounds to 67.84 67.885 rounds to 67.88
Calculations
Uncertainty
and Significant Figures
The
Least Accurate Number (LAN)
determines the number of digits to which the answer is expressed.
Addition and Subtraction
1. The LAN is the
number with the least number of digits following the decimal point.
2. The answer (sum or difference)
can have no more digits following the decimal point than the LAN.
Example:
What is the total mass of a
mixture made by mixing the following substances?
212 g water (LAN)
1.8 g
salt
1.88 g
sugar
____________________
215.98 g (incorrect)
216 g (correct)
Multiplication and Division
1. The LAN is the number with the least
number of significant figures.
2. The answer (product or quotient)
can have no more significant figures than the LAN.
Example:
Calculate
the volume of a rectangular solid that has a length of 4.16 cm, a width of 2.2
cm, and a height of 2.00 cm.
Volume = Length x Width x Height
Volume = (4.16cm) (2.2cm) (2.00cm)
LAN
Volume = 18.304 cm3 (incorrect)
Volume = 18 cm3 (correct)
Code of Academic Honor and
Integrity
Los Angeles Mission College
Departments of Physical and
Life Sciences
Students
at Los Angeles Mission College, because they are members of an academic
community dedicated to the achievement of excellence and the pursuit of honor,
are expected to meet high standards of personal, ethical, and professional
conduct. These standards require personal integrity and a commitment to
honesty. Without the ability to trust in these principles, an academic
community and a civil society cannot exist. Los Angeles Mission College
students and faculty are as committed to the development of students with
honesty and integrity as they are to the academic and professional success of
its students.
The
Academic Code of Honor and Integrity
is an undertaking of the students, both individually and collectively, that
they will:
1. Not
give or receive unpermitted aid during exams, quizzes or assignments
2. Not give or receive unpermitted aid in
assignments, reports or any other course work that is to be used by the
instructor as a basis for grading.
3. Do their share and take an active part in
upholding the spirit and letter of the Code of Academic Honor and Integrity.
Some examples of conduct that are regarded
as being in violation of the Academic Honor Code include:
·
Copying from another’s examination or quiz, or allowing another to copy
from one’s own papers
- Using any unpermitted
source of information, human or other, during an exam, quiz or assignment
that influences the grade; this includes the use of technological devices
- Any student-to-student
collaboration that is unpermitted
- Plagiarism (plagiarism is defined as the use,
without giving reasonable and appropriate credit to, or acknowledging the
author or source, of another person's original work)
- Representing as one’s
own work as the work of another
- Giving or receiving aid
on an academic assignment when a reasonable person should have known that
such aid is not permitted
As a part of the effort to promote and
instill an environment of honesty and integrity during quizzes and
examinations, the following guidelines will apply for any courses in the
Departments of Physical and Life Sciences:
1.
Students will leave all books and all
other non-essential items (e.g. paper, electronic devices) on the floor or
inside their backpacks so that they are not useable nor block the sight line
between professor and student. No electronic devices will be in reach.
2. Students
will not communicate in any way that will dishonorably assist themselves or another
student.
3. Students will leave the room during an exam
only if permitted by the professor’s policy. If permitted, only one
student may leave the room at any time and be gone for only the average length
of time needed for the stated purpose. Students will leave all purses,
bags, books, phones, jackets, etc., in the classroom during the absence.
4.
Students will promote the spirit and
letter of the Code of Academic Honesty and Integrity by dissuading
fellow students from dishonest activity and, when such casual persuasion does
not work, informing the professor of the possible dishonest activity, either
anonymously, or otherwise.
5. Students will make every effort to avoid the
appearance of dishonesty or lack of integrity
Violation of this policy will not be tolerated and violators will be subject to penalties. The
success of the Code of Academic Honor and Integrity is based upon the
collective desire of students, faculty and the community to live in an
environment that embraces respect for that which is
right – both in the college and in society as a whole.
I have read and
understand the Code of Academic
Honor and Integrity and will abide by both its intent
and its spirit:
Name (print) _____________________________ Signature ____________________________ Date ____________________