Table of Contents

SECTION 1 SCOPE AND GENERAL
1.1 SCOPE
1.2 FORM OF NOTATION
1.3 TYPES OF NUMERICAL VALUE
SECTION 2 TERMINOLOGY
2.1 FIGURE
2.2 NUMBER OF SIGNIFICANT FIGURES AND
DECIMAL PLACES
2.3 ROUNDING INTERVAL
2.4 ACCURACY OF AN INSTRUMENT
2.5 UNCERTAINTY OF MEASUREMENT
SECTION 3 PROCEDURE FOR ROUNDING OF NUMBERS
3.1 GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS
3.2 ROUNDING TO ONE UNIT IN THE LAST
PLACE RETAINED
3.3 ROUNDING TO FIVE UNITS OR TWO UNITS
IN THE LAST PLACE RETAINED
3.4 ROUNDING OF NUMBERS IN COMPUTERS AND
CALCULATORS
SECTION 4 NUMBER OF SIGNIFICANT FIGURES TO
BE RETAINED
4.1 GUIDANCE FROM TEST METHOD
4.2 GENERAL PRACTICES
4.3 RELATIVE VALUES
4.4 VALUES ENDING IN ZERO
SECTION 5 INDICATING WHICH PLACES OF FIGURES
ARE TO BE CONSIDERED SIGNIFICANT
IN SPECIFIED LIMITING VALUES
5.1 GENERAL
5.2 RECOGNIZED METHODS
5.3 ABSOLUTE METHOD
5.4 ROUNDING METHOD
APPENDICES
A METHOD OF REFERRING TO THIS STANDARD IN
ANOTHER STANDARD
B EXAMPLES OF INTERPRETATION OF SPECIFIED
LIMITING VALUES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
ROUNDING METHOD

Abstract

Sets out rules for the rounding of numbers, the number of significant figures to be retained in presenting any particular value, and conventions concerning the interpretation of specification limits in relation to their mode of expression. General principles and working rules relating to different aspects of this subject are set out and illustrated with examples.
RECONFIRMATION NOTICE
Major stakeholders of this publication have reviewed the content of this publication and in accordance with Standards Australia procedures for reconfirmation, it has been determined that the publication is still valid and does not require change.
Certain documents referenced in the publication may have been amended since the original date of publication. Users are advised to ensure that they are using the latest versions of such documents as appropriate, unless advised otherwise in this Reconfirmation Notice.
Approved for reconfirmation in accordance with Standards Australia procedures for reconfirmation on 29 August 2018.

Scope

This Standard deals with certain aspects of the rounding and interpretation of numerical values. It includes the following:
(a) Rules for the rounding of numbers, assuming a prior decision on the appropriate number of figures to be retained (see Section 3).
(b) A discussion of the number of significant figures to be retained in presenting any particular value (see Section 4).
(c) Conventions concerning the interpretation of specification limits in relation to their mode of expression (see Section 5).

General Product Information

Published
Document Type	Standard
Status	Current
Publisher	Standards Australia
ProductNote	Reconfirmed 14/09/2018. This standard has been reconfirmed in Australia in 2018 and remains current in New Zealand. Reconfirmation Notice 14/09/2018
Pages
ISBN
Committee	ME-071
Supersedes	AS 2706-1984 DR 02549