The role of least count
All measuring instruments have a calibrated range known as ‘span’, with a Min. and a Max. limit. This range or span is a graduated scale and the minimum value of displayed graduation is the ‘least count’ or ‘resolution’ of the instrument.
For example: a weighing scale with a least count of 10 kg will show weight only in steps of 10 kg, i.e. if the weight of an object is measured as 1016 kg, the scale can show it either as 1010 kg or 1020 kg. Here it does not have any relation whether the measurement of 1016 kg was correct or not. It is only about displaying the result. The least count of a scale can only be 1, 2, 5, 10 and their multiples.



