Back to Exercise: Choose appropriate accuracy

Exercises: Choose a Level of Accuracy Appropriate to Limitations on Measurement When Reporting Quantities

Work through each section in order. Show your work where indicated. Remember: the goal is to report the right number of digits, not the most digits.

Grade 9·22 problems·~40 min·Common Core Math - HS Number and Quantity·standard·hsn-q-a-3
Work through problems with immediate feedback
A

Recall / Warm-Up

1.

A scale always reads 0.5 kg higher than the true weight. Five measurements of a 10.0 kg object give: 10.5, 10.5, 10.5, 10.5, 10.5. Which statement correctly describes these measurements?

2.

Five measurements of a 5.000 cm rod give the values: 5.12, 4.87, 5.23, 4.96, 5.08. The average is 5.05 cm. Which statement correctly classifies these measurements?

3.

Apply the significant figures counting rules. How many significant figures does each measurement have?

0.00450.0045 m has   ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲   significant figures. 4.0524.052 kg has   ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲   significant figures. 4.5004.500 L has   ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲   significant figures.

sig figs in 0.0045:
sig figs in 4.052:
sig figs in 4.500:
B

Fluency Practice

1.

A scientist measures the same length three times and gets: 3.70 cm, 3.70 cm, 3.70 cm. A colleague measures the same length once and reports: 3.7 cm. Which measurement communicates greater precision, and why?

2.

A rectangle is measured as 4.24.2 m wide (2 significant figures) and 6.846.84 m long (3 significant figures). A calculator gives the area as 28.72828.728 m². To how many significant figures should you report the area?

3.

A student rounds the following measured sum: 1,0001{,}000 g +1.23+ 1.23 g. She applies the "round to the same number of significant figures as the least precise input" rule and reports 1,0001{,}000 g (1 sig fig). What error did she make, and what is the correct answer?

4.

Apply the correct significant-figure rule for each calculation.

Multiplication: 3.2 m×4.75 m=3.2 \text{ m} \times 4.75 \text{ m} =   ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲   m² (report to correct sig figs).

Addition: 12.3 cm+0.56 cm=12.3 \text{ cm} + 0.56 \text{ cm} =   ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲ ̲   cm (report to correct sig figs).

area in m²:
sum in cm:
5.

A ruler is marked in millimeters. A student measures a piece of wood and reports its length as 23.42723.427 mm. What is the problem with this report?

You're viewing 2 of 6 sections.

Create a free account to continue the full exercise set and save your progress.

Create free account
0 of 8 answered

Answer all problems to submit.