One point three six rounded to two significant figures is one point four because you keep the first two significant digits one and three and then look at the next digit six, which is five or greater, so you increase the last kept digit by one.
Think of significant figures as the important digits you want to keep when a number is measured or reported. For one point three six, the first significant figure is the one and the second significant figure is the three, and the digit after those two is six. Since that following digit is five or bigger, you raise the second significant figure from three to four and then drop the rest, giving one point four. If the next digit had been four or less you would keep one point three exactly, and if it had been exactly five you would still round up under the usual rule.
A common mistake is treating decimal places the same as significant figures, which can lead to keeping the wrong number of digits; remember significant figures count all meaningful digits, not just how many places after the decimal. Another error is forgetting to look at the digit immediately after the last significant figure before deciding to round up or down, so always check that next digit. A quick tip is to underline the last significant figure you want to keep and then look at the digit right after it to decide whether to increase it.
For more videos and resources on rounding and significant figures visit w w w dot gumball degree dot com.
Rounding 1.36 to Two Significant Figures
- Identify the first significant digit
- Identify the second significant digit
- Check the digit after kept digits
- Round up if next digit ≥ 5
- Drop the remaining digits
Common Rounding Mistakes with Significant Figures
- Confusing decimal places with significant figures
- Forgetting to check the next digit
- Misapplying the rounding-up rule when five appears
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