Significant Figures Worksheet

Significant figures at a glance

Significant figures (also referred to as sig figs or sf) are digits which contribute to the value of a number. We start counting significant figures from the first non-zero digit. For example, in the number 23.0961, the first significant figure is 2, the second significant figure is 3, the third significant figure is 0 and so on. 

We can round to a given number of significant figures in the same way we can round to a given number of decimal places. For example, if we want to round to 3 significant figures, we start by identifying the third significant digit (this could come before or after a decimal point). We then look at the next digit, if this is 5 or greater we round up and if it is 4 or less we round down. 

As an alternative to rounding numbers to the nearest significant figure, we can round to other degrees of accuracy such as the nearest 10, nearest whole number or nearest hundredth.

Looking forward, students can then progress to additional number worksheets, for example an equivalent fractions & ordering fractions worksheet or simplifying fractions worksheet.

For more teaching and learning support on Number our GCSE maths lessons provide step by step support for all GCSE maths concepts.