Significant Figures in Multiplication and Division

When multiplying or dividing numbers, round the result to the same number of total digits (the same relative precision) as the input value with the fewest significant figures.

In the example above, our least precise input value has three significant figures (1.01), so the answer to the calculation should also have three significant figures.

In this example, again, the final answer matches the relative precision (total number of significant figures) of the least precise input value – four digits.

This is a little different from the rule for addition and subtraction. Be careful to keep track of which rule you are using for each calculation you perform.