Chemistry Music Video 2: Big Sig Fig Gig

This song explains how to determine the number of significant figures (measured digits) in a measurement, All music and lyrics copyright 2007, Mark Rosengarten. All rights reserved. Lyrics: When you take a measurement What makes it significant? The numbers that you measure Are the ones that you should treasure When rounding answers off with math Sig figs can be the easy path How ever can you see How many sig figs that there be? Heres a way for you to tell Its better than a magic spell So pay attention to the words And it wont seem quite as absurd! If your measurement is smaller Than the number ONE Finding out the sig figs Can be a lot of fun Find the first non-zero Thats on the leftward side From that place on to the right, Theyre all sig figs, what a ride! (0.00350 has three sig figs, starting from the 3 and going all the way to the end) If your measurement is bigger Than the number ONE Start with the first digit Your countings just begun Go right to the last integer Or a line over a zero Or look for a decimal point Youre a sig fig hero! _ 1300 has two sig figs, 1300 has three sig figs, 1300. has four sig figs) In a number that is bigger Than the number ONE The zeros on the end Could be place-holders, son! If there is nothing on those zeros To tell us different Then the zeros are place holders (I think thats what I meant!!!) A line over a zero Tells us where the sig figs stop Unless its in the units place (Then a decimal point youll pop) And now its time to hear the rule Please put on your wigs Bigger than one with a decimal point Theyre all sig figs!