Question

In the Lab you report a measured volume 128.7 of water. Using significant figures as a measure, what range of answers does your reported volume imply

Answer 1

Significant figures are a method used in measurements to indicate the precision of a number. The reported volume of 128.7 would imply a range of 128.6 to 128.8 if we assume one uncertain digit, or a range of 128.5 to 128.9 if we assume two uncertain digits.

Step-by-step explanation:

Significant figures are a method used in measurements to indicate the precision of a number. They include all the digits that are known with certainty, plus the first uncertain digit. In the case of the measured volume of water, 128.7, the significant figures would be 4.

The range of answers that would be implied by the reported volume depends on the level of uncertainty. If we assume one uncertain digit, then the range would be 128.6 to 128.8. If we assume two uncertain digits, then the range would be 128.5 to 128.9.

It's important to note that the number of significant figures represents the confidence and precision of the measurement, so it's crucial to use the appropriate number of significant figures when performing calculations or reporting data.

Answer 2

Your measurement implies that the range of answers is 128.6 mL to 128.8 mL.

If you do not state explicitly the range of uncertainty (e.g., ± 0.5 mL), the implied range of uncertainty is ±1 in the last significant digit.

Thus, a reading of 128.7 mL implies that the volume is 128.7 mL ± 0.1 mL.