Essential Math 40S — Precision and Uncertainty Questions
1.
Round each measurement to the indicated degree of precision.
a)
1.0925 km to the nearest hundredth
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2.
b)
29.51 cm to the nearest whole unit
c)
6021.139 min to the nearest tenth
Examine the following measurement:
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a)
What is the precision of the measuring device?
b)
What is the uncertainty of the measuring device?
c)
What is the length of the measured item, including its uncertainty?
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Essential Math 405— Precision and Uncertainty Questions
3.
4.
A metre stick marked off in centimetres is used to measure the length of a machine shed.
a)
What is the precision of the metre stick?
b)
What is the uncertainty of the metre stick?
The odometer on a car measures distances to the nearest tenth of a kilometre.
a)
What is the precision of the odometer?
b)
What is the uncertainty of the odometer?
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5.
A thermometer is used to measure someone's temperature. The reading is 38.8°C.
a)
What is the precision of the thermometer?
b)
What is the uncertainty of the thermometer?
Essential Math 40S — Precision and Uncertainty Questions
6.
A juice jug is marked in quarter-litres. The amount of juice in the jug is 2.5 L.
a)
What is the precision of the juice jug?
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b)
What is the uncertainty of the juice jug?
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c)
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Write the measurement of juice in the jug in the form:
measured value + measurement uncertainty.
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d)
What is the smallest volume (in litres) that could be in the jug?
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e)
What is the largest volume (in litres) that could be in the jug?
What is the range of volume (in litres) that could be in the jug?
Essential Math 405— Precision and Uncertainty Questions
7.
Frank measured his height as 1.75 musing a tape measure marked in centimetres.
a)
What is the precision of the tape measure?
b)
What is the uncertainty of the tape measure?
c)
Write Frank's height as: measured value + measurement uncertainty.
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d)
What is the smallest possible value for Frank's height?
e)
What is the largest possible value for Frank's height?
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What is the range of possible values of Frank's actual height?
Essential Math 40S — Precision and Uncertainty Questions
8.
Marcia's oven indicates temperatures to the nearest 10°C. She sets it at 160°C.
a)
What is the precision of Marcia's oven thermometer?
b)
What is the uncertainty of the oven thermometer?
c)
What is the maximum possible temperature in the oven?
d)
What is the minimum possible temperature in the oven?
Essential Math 405— Precision and Uncertainty Questions
9.
A chef wants to install new cupboards in his kitchen. The space available is 130 cm wide,
measured to the nearest centimetre. He plans to buy prebuilt cupboards. The sizes
available are 41 cm, 65 cm, and 24 cm wide. He plans to buy one of each size of the
cupboards.
a)
Considering the precision and uncertainty of the space measurement, what is the
smallest possible value for the space available?
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b)
Considering the precision and uncertainty of the cupboard measurements, can the
chef safely assume that they will fit in the available space? Why or why not?
Essential Math 40S — Precision and Uncertainty Questions
10.
A jeweler has made a pair of wedding rings. One ring weighs 9.22 g and the other weighs
5.73 g.
a)
What are the precision and uncertainty for the weight of each ring?
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b)
What are the maximum and minimum possible combined weights of the two
rings?
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c)
Assuming gold is $48.14 a gram, calculate the minimum and maximum price for
these rings.
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Essential Math 405— Precision and Uncertainty Questions
11.
A nurse is filling a syringe with medicine for a patient. The dose required is 24 ml The
syringe is marked in 2 mL units.
What are the maximum and minimum amounts of medicine that could be in the syringe?
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12.
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A fisherman caught three salmon. They weighed 9.3 kg, 4.7 kg, and 8.4 kg.
a)
What assumption can you make about the precision of the scale?
b)
What is the maximum combined weight of the three fish'? What is the minimum
combined weight?
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