ASTM D6026-96e1

Standard Practice for Using Significant Digits in Geotechnical Data

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-Dec-1995
• ICS: 07.020 - Mathematics
• Technical Committee: D18 - Soil and Rock
• Drafting Committee: D18.91 - Standards Development and Review

Standards Content (Sample)

e1
Designation: D 6026 – 96
AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR TESTING AND MATERIALS
100 Barr Harbor Dr., West Conshohocken, PA 19428
Reprinted from the Annual Book of ASTM Standards. Copyright ASTM
Standard Practice for
Using Significant Digits in Calculating and Reporting
1
Geotechnical Test Data
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 6026; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1
e NOTE—Paragraph 1.3 was added editorially October 1998.
1. Scope digits in a number according to rules relating to the required
accuracy of the value.
1.1 This practice is intended to assist in the use of uniform
3.1.5 significant digit—any of the integers one through nine
methods of indicating the number of digits that are to be
and zeros except leading zeros and some trailing zeros.
considered significant and rounding for intermediate calcula-
3.1.5.1 Zero is a significant digit if it comes between two
tions when reporting geotechnical test results.
non-zero integers.
1.2 This practice uses a variation of the traditional rounding
3.1.5.2 Zeros leading the first nonzero digit of a number
method (see Practice E 29) that recognizes the algorithm
indicate the order of magnitude only and are not significant
common to most hand-held calculators.
digits. For example, the number 0.0034 has two significant
1.3 This practice offers a set of instructions for performing
digits.
one or more specific operations. This document cannot replace
3.1.5.3 Zeros trailing the last nonzero digit for numbers
education or experience and should be used in conjunction
represented with a decimal point are significant digits. For
with professional judgment. Nat all aspects of this practice may
example, 4.00 and 4.01 have three significant digits.
be applicable in all circumstances. This ASTM standard is not
3.1.5.4 The significance of trailing zeros for numbers rep-
intended to represent or replace the standard of care by which
resented without use of a decimal point can only be identified
the adequacy of a given professional service must be judged,
from knowledge of the source of the value.
nor should this document be applied without consideration of
a project’s many unique aspects. The word “Standard” in the
4. Significance and Use
title of this document means only that the document has been
4.1 The guidelines presented in this practice for retaining
approved through the ASTM consensus process.
significant digits and rounding numbers may be adopted by the
2. Referenced Documents using agency or user. Generally, their adoption should be used
for calculating and reporting test data when specified require-
2.1 ASTM Standards:
ments are not included in a standard.
E 29 Practice for Using Significant Digits in Test Data to
2
4.2 The guidelines presented herein should not be inter-
Determine Conformance with Specifications
preted as absolute rules but as guides to calculate and report
IEEE/ASTM SI 10 Standard for Use of the International
observed or test data without exaggerating or degrading the
System of Units (SI): The Modern Metric System
accuracy of the values.
3. Terminology
5. Guidelines for Rounding Numbers in Calculation and
3.1 Definitions:
Reporting of Test Results
3.1.1 accuracy, n—the degree of agreement of individual or
5.1 General Discussion—Rounding test results avoids the
average measurements with an accepted reference value.
misleading impression of precision while preventing the loss of
3.1.2 number, n—a measured, observed, or approximated
information due to coarse resolution. Any approach to retention
number, except when used in the context of 88number of
of significant digits of necessity involves some loss of infor-
significant digits” or 88number of decimal places.”
mation; therefore, the level of rounding should be selected
3.1.3 precision, n—the degree of mutual agreement among
carefully considering both planned and potential uses for the
individual measurements.
data.
3.1.4 rounding, n—the process of reducing the number of
5.2 Rounding Numbers—When a numerical value is to be
rounded to fewer digits than the total number available, the
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D-18 on Soil and
following procedure is to be followed:
Rock and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.91 on Standards
When the first digit
Development and Review.
dropped is: The last digit retained is: Examples
Current edition approved Oct. 10, 1996. Published April 1997.
2 <5 unchanged 2.44 to 2.4
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 14.02.
1

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D 6026
6. Guidelines for Retaining Significant Digits in
>5 increased by 1 2.46 to 2.5
Exactly 5 always increase by 1 2.55 to 2.6 or
Calculation and Reporting of Test Results
2.45 to 2.5
6.1 Upon co
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