Significant Figure Calculation in WebAssign

Because textbooks and instructors sometimes use different rules for determining significant figures, WebAssign might calculate the correct number of significant figures in a different way than you teach in your class.

Operation	Rule	Examples
Addition	Use the fewest number of decimal places specified in any of the operands.	2.46 + 6.1743 = 8.63
Subtraction	Use the fewest number of decimal places specified in any of the operands.	3.1415 - 2.2 = 0.9
Multiplication	Use the fewest number of significant figures specified in any of the operands.	1530 × 4.0 = 6100 1530 × 4 = 6000
Division	Use the fewest number of significant figures specified in any of the operands.	444 ÷ 4 = 100 444 ÷ 111 = 4.00
Exponentiation	Use the same number of significant figures as the base.	2¹⁰ = 1e3 2.000¹⁰ = 1024
Logarithms	Use the same number of decimal places in the result as the number of significant figures in the number you are taking the logarithm of.	log₁₀(27) = 1.43 ln(0.026) = -3.65
Antilogarithms	Use the same number of significant figures in the result as the number of decimal places in the number you are taking the antilogarithm of.	10^3.43 = 2700 e^-3.65 = 0.026

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