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An appropriate degree of accuracy

what does it mean when it says give your answer to 'an appropriate degree of accuracy,'?
is it to 3 significant figures or 1 decimal place or something?
Original post by Ellis North-Fox
what does it mean when it says give your answer to 'an appropriate degree of accuracy,'?
is it to 3 significant figures or 1 decimal place or something?


My science teacher always said to do it to the least amount of decimal places/significant figures present in the question. So for example if the numbers were 2.12315, 7.21 and 6.462, give your answer to 2 decimal places because that's the least amount present in the question.

:smile:
I'd say, if it's with a ruler, do it to the resolution of the ruler so 0.1cm or 0.001m or with a thermometer, 1˚C. This is for science though. Essentially the smallest measurement that a measuring tool can take. In maths, I would agree with my guy above ^^^

Original post by TheEyeOfBaradDur
My science teacher always said to do it to the least amount of decimal places/significant figures present in the question. So for example if the numbers were 2.12315, 7.21 and 6.462, give your answer to 2 decimal places because that's the least amount present in the question.

:smile:
In maths “to an appropriate degree of accuracy” means it wants you to present your answer in the same form as the lest accurate measure in the question. For example

A triangle has side measures 3cm to the nearest integer, 4.1256cm and 6.856cm. Work out the perimeter.

Your answer would be to the nearest integer since that is the least accurate measurement give in the question. Hope this helps :smile:
(edited 6 years ago)
In physics my teacher said to the highest degree of accuracy. I think it depends, but always right out as many figures as possible then you'll only lose 1 mark. Also I like using 3sf and I always write 3sf after my answer to show what 'degree of accuracy' I've used.
Original post by Angel_Chen
In physics my teacher said to the highest degree of accuracy. I think it depends, but always right out as many figures as possible then you'll only lose 1 mark. Also I like using 3sf and I always write 3sf after my answer to show what 'degree of accuracy' I've used.


I guess it varies for each topic, maths is the opposite
Yeah, the question was a little vague. But in maths I pretty much always use 3sf even if it doesn't ask for it.
Reply 7
Original post by Ellis North-Fox
what does it mean when it says give your answer to 'an appropriate degree of accuracy,'?
is it to 3 significant figures or 1 decimal place or something?

Can you please give an example question? If this is a bounds question then there's a specific method to follow.

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