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Significant Figures

On exam questions do you get marked down if you put too many SF? Even if the question does not specify "To an appropriate number of significant figures?" Since on markschemes I sometimes see my answer is correct but not always accepted, as there may be too many SF. Usually for large numbers such as 10435.4546. I'd round to 10435.5.

Would I get marked down for something like that when it's not specified? If so, how many SF should I put down on a regular basis?

Reply 1

tobnot

I'm pretty sure you wouldn't get marked down for writing too many significant figures. However I've always been told, as a general rule of thumb to give your answer to 2 decimal places or 3 significant figures. Hope this helps

Reply 2

Trainz

I usually just look at the number of significant figures they've given us the data in and then I just give my answer in the same number of significant figures. If that's no possible, then 3 significant figures usually.