a) metric prefixes
b)derived units
c)significant figures
d)conversion factors
2007-01-29 02:47:19 · 3 answers · asked by babsbarr88 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Mathematics
c) significant figures.
If you use a standard yard stick to measure the length of a board, you can not measure it to say 5.39267 feet. If the smallest graduation is 1/8 inch (0.125 inch), anything beyond the accuracy of the ruler is an estimate or guess.
If you now multiply a very accurate measurement by an inaccurate one the answer is limited by the inaccurate figure. Say you measure the width of an object with a micrometer to an accuracy of 4.259 inches and a length using a yard stick to just over 12 1/8 inches the accuracy of the product must be reduced to the least accurate quantity (significant figure).
12.125 x 4.259 = 51.640375 You must drop the 375 and perhaps the 0375 because of uncertainty in the 12.125 plus a little. Only certain numbers are significant (because additional numbers are insignificant!).
2007-01-29 03:51:46 · answer #1 · answered by Kes 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
c). It tells you to what degree of confidence you have worked out the answer.
2007-01-29 10:49:39 · answer #2 · answered by I hate friggin' crybabies 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
c - significant figures (digits) is the answer.
2007-01-29 10:50:21 · answer #3 · answered by Swamy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋