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If your teen is preparing for chemistry or physics this year, especially at the honors or AP level, significant figures are one of those early concepts that can trip them up and quietly cost points all year long.

In this episode of Teaching High School Science, I’m breaking down what significant figures (or "sig figs") really are, why they matter in science, and how to help your teen build strong habits now to avoid common mistakes later.

You’ll learn:

• The five essential rules for identifying significant figures (with examples!)
  
  
• When to focus on decimal places for addition and subtraction
  
  
• Why total sig figs matter in multiplication and division
  
  
• How to handle mixed operations and use PEMDAS without losing points
  
  
• Simple strategies like creating a problem notebook and using verbal explanations to strengthen understanding
  
  

Whether you're supporting your teen at home or in the classroom, these tips will help them feel more confident and accurate when using sig figs—so they can focus on the science instead of getting stuck on the formatting.

📩 Be sure to check the show notes for:

• A free Significant Figures Guide
  
  
• A blog post with visual examples and step-by-step explanations
  
  

🎧 Tune in and help your teen start the year strong with the precision skills they’ll use all year long in both chemistry and physics.

Thanks for tuning in!

For more insightful discussions and resources on science education, visit my website at thesciencementor.com.

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Let's continue the conversation and explore the wonders of science together!