Question

The teacher asked 4 students to measure 4 different objects. The table shown represents their measurements. Which student had the largest percent error?

Answer 1

the correct answer is student four because it was off the most

Answer 2

Student #4

Explanation:

The formula for percentage error is given below. We will use this formula for all the four students and figure out whose error is the most.

Percentage Error =
`|(MeasuredValue-ActualValue)/(ActualValue)|*100`

• For student 1:

% Error =
`|(49-50)/(50)|*100\\=|-0.02|*100\\=(0.02)(100)\\=2`

• For student 2:

% Error =
`|(25.5-25)/(25)|*100\\=|0.02|*100\\=(0.02)(100)\\=2`

• For student 3:

% Error =
`|(7.5-8)/(8)|*100\\=|-0.0625|*100\\=(0.0625)(100)\\=6.25`

• For student 4:

% Error =
`|(2.1-1.6)/(1.6)|*100\\=|0.3125|*100\\=(0.3125)(100)\\=31.25`

Clearly, 31.25% error of student #4 is the highest.