Concept explainers
When we write the number 3.6 as typical of a number with two significant figures, we’re saying that the actual value is closer to 3.6 than to 3.5 or 3.7; that is, the actual value lies between 3.55 and 3.65. Show that the percent uncertainty implied by such two-significant-figure precision varies with the value of the number, being the lowest for numbers beginning with 9 and the highest for numbers beginning with 1. In particular, what is the percent uncertainty implied by the numbers (a) 1.1, (b) 5.0, and (c) 9.9?
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