LEVEL OF ACCURACY (noun)

 

This phrase is used to qualitatively indicate the number of significant figures to which a value is known.

Examples: a top-loading balance or a graduated cylinder yields data with only 1 or 2 significant figures. Therefore, only a low level of accuracy can be achieved using these devices. An analytical balance or a pipet yields data with 4 significant figures. Hence, a high level of accuracy can be achieved using these devices.