significant digit

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Explanation of "Significant Digit"

Definition:
A "significant digit" is a digit in a number that helps us understand its value accurately. It includes all the digits starting from the first non-zero digit on the left to the last non-zero digit on the right. For example, in the number 0.00456, the digits 4, 5, and 6 are significant digits, while the leading zeros (0.00) are not.

Usage Instructions:

• Use "significant digit" when discussing numbers, especially in math or science.
• It is important in measurements, where you need to know how precise a number is.

Example:

• The number 123.45 has five significant digits: 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.
• The number 0.00450 has three significant digits: 4, 5, and the trailing zero (which is significant because it shows the precision of the measurement).

Advanced Usage:

In scientific calculations, you often report answers using a specific number of significant digits to show how precise your measurement or calculation is. For example, if you calculate a result and want to express it with three significant digits, you would round it accordingly.

Word Variants:

• Significance (noun): Refers to the importance or meaning of something.
• Significant (adjective): Important or meaningful.

Different Meanings:

• "Significant" can also mean "important" in a general context, not just in numbers. For example, "She made a significant contribution to the project" means her contribution was important.

Synonyms:

• Important
• Meaningful
• Noteworthy

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

While "significant digit" doesn’t have common idioms or phrasal verbs directly related to it, you might encounter phrases like: - "To add up": To calculate the total of numbers, which can involve significant digits. - "Make a point": To emphasize something important, similar in spirit to discussing significant digits.

Summary:

In summary, a "significant digit" is crucial when dealing with numbers, especially in precise measurements.

Academic

Noun

1. any digit of a number that is known with certainty; any digit of a number beginning with the leftmost non-zero digit and ending with the rightmost non-zero digit (or a zero considered to be the exact value)
   • he calculated the answer to four significant figures

Synonyms

• significant figure