Question

Krisann and Isaiah mark a section of the floor with tape. They each measure the length of the tape on their own to compare their measurements. Isaiah uses a tape measure that measures to the nearest eighth of an inch, and Krisann uses a tape measure that measures to the nearest quarter of an inch. They both measure the length of the tape to be 27.75 inches. Who has the more precise measurement?

Answer 1

Isaiah Let's solve this by rewriting the actual measurements the two boys have with their uncertainties. Krisann has a measuring tape to the nearest quarter inch. So his measurement may be off by half that, or and eighth of an inch. So his measurement is 27.75 ± 0.125. Isaiah has a measuring tape to the nearest eighth inch. So his measurement may be off by up to a sixteenth of an inch. So his measurement is 27.75 ± 0.0625 Now which is more precise, 27.75 ± 0.125, or 27.75 ± 0.0625? The answer is pretty obvious with 27.75 ± 0.0625 being the more precise measurement. And that value is from Isaiah.