Error

Approximations & Error (Lesson 3/3)

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Discussion

We saw in the rounding numbers section that the level of precision available when measuring values can impact the final answer of a calculation. Finding the volume of water in a graduated cylinder with markings every 1 mL, for example, could result in a different answer than finding the volume of the same amount of water in a different graduated cylinder that has markings every 0.25 mL.

Both of these cylinders have the same amount of water in them, but if we took the measurement using the first cylinder we'd get 25 mL, and if we took it using the second, we'd get 25.25 mL.

What range of numbers do you think the "actual" volume of the water might fall in, based off of the measurement given by first cylinder? Based off of the second?