This practice is intended to assist the various technical committees in the use of uniform methods of indicating the number of digits which are to be considered significant in specification limits, for example, specified maximum values and specified minimum values. Its aim is to outline methods which should aid in clarifying the intended meaning of specification limits with which observed values or calculated test results are compared in determining conformance with specifications. Two commonly accepted methods of rounding data, identified as the absolute method and the rounding method are described. The guidelines for retaining significant figures in calculation and reporting of test results are presented in details.

This abstract is a brief summary of the referenced standard. It is informational only and not an official part of the standard; the full text of the standard itself must be referred to for its use and application. ASTM does not give any warranty express or implied or make any representation that the contents of this abstract are accurate, complete or up to date.

1. Scope

1.1 This practice is intended to assist the various technical committees in the use of uniform methods of indicating the number of digits which are to be considered significant in specification limits, for example, specified maximum values and specified minimum values. Its aim is to outline methods which should aid in clarifying the intended meaning of specification limits with which observed values or calculated test results are compared in determining conformance with specifications.

1.2 This practice is intended to be used in determining conformance with specifications when the applicable ASTM specifications or standards make direct reference to this practice.

1.3 Reference to this practice is valid only when a choice of method has been indicated, that is, either absolute method or rounding method.

2. Referenced Documents (purchase separately) The documents listed below are referenced within the subject standard but are not provided as part of the standard.

ASTM Standards

E177 Practice for Use of the Terms Precision and Bias in ASTM Test Methods

E456 Terminology Relating to Quality and Statistics

E2282 Guide for Defining the Test Result of a Test Method

IEEE/ASTM SI 10 Standard for Use of the International System of Units (SI): The Modern Metric System

Keywords

Calculating test values; Conformance/conformity assessment; Data analysis; Digits; Limiting values; Observation/observed values; Rounding-off method; Significant figures; Specifications; Statistical methods ;

ICS Code

ICS Number Code 17.020 (Metrology and measurement in general); 19.020 (Test conditions and procedures in general)

Citing ASTM Standards

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