Significant Digits
Significant digits measure overall relative accuracy of a value.
In measurement , the last significant digit is the first one you have to estimate.
For example, if you were measuring something with a ruler marked in centimeters, and found that it was cm long and just a little bit more, you would have to estimate the millimeters – say cm. So the digit corresponding to millimeters (in this case the tenths place) would be the last significant digit.
How many significant digits in a number?
To count the number of significant digits in a number, do this:
1) Count all the non-zero digits.
2) Count any zero that has some non-zero digit to its left .
3) Don't count any other zeros.
So, the number has six significant digits. (The first four zeros don't count; the other three zeros do, by rule .)