Final answer:
The International System of Units (SI units) is a globally accepted system of measurement that simplifies conversions through the metric system. Significant figures represent the precision of a measurement, with all digits being significant except for leading zeros. Correctly identifying significant figures in decimal or scientific notation is crucial for accurately conveying measurement precision.
Step-by-step explanation:
The International System of Units (SI units) is a standardized system of measurement adopted by international agreement. The SI units form the basis for scientific measurements and include seven base units, such as the meter, kilogram, and second. This system is based on the metric system and simplifies conversions using multiples of 10. In addition to providing standard units of measure, the SI system also includes significant figures, which express the precision of a measurement tool and are known as significant digits. These figures include all of the digits that are known accurately in a measurement, plus one final digit that is estimated.
When converting between metric units, a straightforward algorithm is used, involving multiplying the measurement by a predefined ratio or proportion. Significant figures are critical in accurately conveying the precision of these measurements. Leading zeros are not considered significant, while all other zeros are, depending on their placement in the number. When expressing figures in decimal or scientific notation, it is important to correctly identify which digits are significant to represent the precision and uncertainty of measurement correctly.