In this example, we should not report all the digits from the final calculation. By including all the numbers we imply that we were able to measure the dimensions with greater precision than actually possible with a standard inch ruler. We should round and report the diagonal calculation with two significant figures since the length and width values were given with two significant figures. If we round off in the middle of our calculation and square root 190, we will be removing valuable information that would otherwise provide a more accurate diagonal value. By rounding down midway we end up with a value that is less than the true diagonal value. You could argue that we are going to report our final answer with two significant figures anyway and end up at the same number, but it is a bad habit that can lead to unreliable data in other situations.

Calculus: Early Transcendentals
8th Edition
ISBN:9781285741550
Author:James Stewart
Publisher:James Stewart
Chapter1: Functions And Models
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 1RCC: (a) What is a function? What are its domain and range? (b) What is the graph of a function? (c) How...
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Agree or not agree and why
In this example, we should not report all the digits from
the final calculation. By including all the numbers we
imply that we were able to measure the dimensions with
greater precision than actually possible with a standard
inch ruler. We should round and report the diagonal
calculation with two significant figures since the length
and width values were given with two significant figures.
If we round off in the middle of our calculation and square
root 190, we will be removing valuable information that
would otherwise provide a more accurate diagonal value.
By rounding down midway we end up with a value that is
less than the true diagonal value. You could argue that we
are going to report our final answer with two significant
figures anyway and end up at the same number, but it is a
bad habit that can lead to unreliable data in other
situations.
Transcribed Image Text:In this example, we should not report all the digits from the final calculation. By including all the numbers we imply that we were able to measure the dimensions with greater precision than actually possible with a standard inch ruler. We should round and report the diagonal calculation with two significant figures since the length and width values were given with two significant figures. If we round off in the middle of our calculation and square root 190, we will be removing valuable information that would otherwise provide a more accurate diagonal value. By rounding down midway we end up with a value that is less than the true diagonal value. You could argue that we are going to report our final answer with two significant figures anyway and end up at the same number, but it is a bad habit that can lead to unreliable data in other situations.
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It is more accurate to the rounded calculation lastly and not in the middle.

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