🔢 Number

Significant figures

Learn significant figures with a GCSE-style explanation, help guide, worked example, practice question and flashcards.

Advanced TopicsGCSE+35 XP completion3 flashcards

Global XP

Level 1

0 / 100 XP

1. Explanation

Key idea

Significant figures is part of advanced topics and appears often in KS3–GCSE maths.
Significant figures count from the first non-zero digit.
Use the worked model, help guide, interactive question and flashcards to practise significant figures until the steps feel automatic.

Shopping, sport, travel, science, design and everyday decisions all use this skill.

2. Visual

Understand the key idea → follow the help guide → practise a question → check your method → build speed with flashcards.

3. Help guide

Learn the rule: Significant figures count from the first non-zero digit.
Worked model: Find the first non-zero digit. Count the required significant figures. Use the next digit to round.
Try the interactive question without looking at the answer first.
Use the flashcards to test the rule, the method and a common check.

4. Worked examples

Answer: 3849 to 2 significant figures is 3800

5. Interactive questions

6. Flashcards

Flip each card, then choose whether you know it or need more practice.

0 mastered

FrontRule for Significant figures

BackSignificant figures count from the first non-zero digit.

FrontExample answer: Round 0.04782 to 2 significant figures.

BackThe first two significant digits are 4 and 7; the next digit is 8, so 0.04782 rounds to 0.048.

FrontCommon check for Significant figures

BackCheck units/notation, compare with an estimate, and make sure the answer matches the question.

7. Finish

When you have read the examples, tried the question and reviewed flashcards, claim your topic completion XP.