Math Skills - Significant Figures In any measurement, the number of significant figures is critical. The number of significant figures is the number of digits believed to be correct by the person doing the measuring. It includes one estimated digit. So, does the concept of significant figures deal with precision or accuracy? I'll answer this question after you peruse the next example. Let's look at an example where significant figures is important: measuring volume in the laboratory. This can be done in many ways: using a beaker with volumes marked on the side, a graduated cylinder, or a buret. Which glassware would give you the most precise volume measurement? Let's figure out the volume for each one a By pdboyerin Public bookmarkswith digitsestimatedmeasurementprecisionsig_figssignificant