rounding, sig. fig., etc.

[Zellmer, Robert]

I've always get questions about sig. fig., rounding (whether
I use the special "round even" rule, etc.).  I have several links I
use for 1250, 1210 and 1220 dealing with these topics.  You
will find 1220 links at the "Helpful Tidbits" link for Chem 1220,

Helpful Tidbits for 1220<https://www.asc.ohio-state.edu/zellmer.1/chem1220/faq/faq_1220.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 1.8 and
1.9. There is no reason to always round up and you really shouldn't.
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 in Excel
you can't use this rule (Excel doesn't have a function to do this easily).
Also, the answers in the back of the textbook and solutions manual do
not use the round-even rule.

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.

There's also a link dealing with s.f. for logarithms which you will need
to understand for several experiments and lecture material.  You should
make sure you understand this before the BAR exp.  Sig. fig. for logs can
be tricky at first but are easier than you think.  We will be using logarithms
starting in ch 14 and then again in other chapters.

These are just some of the useful links there and I may be adding more
(if I do I'll let you know).  Take a look.  Also, take a look at the one for
1210, which has additional links for first semester chemistry.

Helpful Tidbits for 1210<https://www.asc.ohio-state.edu/zellmer.1/chem1210/faq/faq_1210.htm>

Dr. Zellmer
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