rounding, sig. fig., etc.

[robert zellmer]

I'm still getting some questions about sig. fig., rounding (whether
I use the special "round even" rule, etc.).  I have several links I use
for 1210 (and 1250) dealing with these topics.  You will find them
at the "Helpful Tidbits" link for Chem 1210,

*Helpful Tidbits for 1210* 
<http://www.chemistry.ohio-state.edu/%7Erzellmer/chem1210/faq/faq_1210.htm>

I use the round-even rule when getting rid of an exact 5 or 5 followed
by zeros, such as rounding 1.85 to the tenths place.   You are dropping
the "5".  The number being rounded is exactly halfway between the two
numbers so there's no reason to always round up.  However, you don't
really need to worry if you didn't do this in 1210.  Even if you don't
do this it should not affect you getting the correct answers on the exams
or losing points on the quizzes or labs.  Actually, if you use Excel to do
your calculations and the report sheets you can't use this rule (Excel
doesn't have a function to do this easily).

You still may find these files useful, especially if you don't remember
sig. fig. rules or had trouble with them the first time around.

Dr. Zellmer
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