Decimal rounding and significant digits
Decimal places, retained significant digits and rounding ties.
Key knowledge
Decimal places count positions after the decimal separator. Significant digits in a nonzero reported decimal start at the first nonzero digit and end at the last explicitly retained digit. Leading zeros locate the decimal point; trailing zeros can communicate retained precision. Nearest rounding must declare its halfway rule.
Conditions and scope
- Scientific notation can make intended trailing-digit precision explicit; a bare integer such as 1300 can be ambiguous.
- Written precision alone does not establish measurement uncertainty or accuracy.
Sources · 2
References
Sources retain their recorded scope. A source link alone does not establish verification of every statement.
Evidence and review
Decimal places, retained significant digits and rounding ties.
2026-10-10 · Independent Physics and Measurement reference editor (AI editorial bounded review). Exact bounded introductory reference claims and this practical concept inventory are approved after closure. Existing university/research proof and source scopes remain separate; no universal knowledge-completeness or experimental-validation assertion.
Foundational review
2026-10-10 · Independent AI editorial inspection of this new compact reference entry, its equations, applicability, sources and knowledge connections.
Sources from other places
Scope or convention differs
Significant-figure rounding using an identified final retained digit.
The module uses round-half-up; the repository requires declaring ties and keeps precision separate from uncertainty.
Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute and University of Melbourne
- TIMES · Indices and logarithms AustraliaEnglish
Significant figures in scientific notation
- TIMES · Indices and logarithms
Entry details
Permanent link to this entry ↗- Record identity
- foundation-math-decimal-rounding-precision
- Revision
- foundations-audit.1
- Structured reference record
- Foundational core completion