Final answer:
The minimum possible mass of an ostrich egg stated as 3.4 lb to the nearest tenth is 3.35 lb, which converts to 1.5 kg. The maximum is 3.45 lb, which converts to 1.6 kg. The conversions use the relationship that 1 lb equals 0.4536 kg.
Step-by-step explanation:
When an ostrich egg has a mass of 3.4 lb to the nearest tenth of a pound, the minimum and maximum possible measurements are within half of that rounding unit both below and above the stated value. The egg could weigh a little less than 3.4 lb before being rounded up, and a little more before being rounded down.
Since the ostrich egg's weight is given as 3.4 lb, the minimum weight before rounding would be 3.35 lb (3.4 - 0.05 lb), and the maximum weight before rounding up would be 3.45 lb (3.4 lb + 0.05 lb). This is because the nearest tenth requires us to look at the hundredths place as the point of rounding.
To convert pounds to kilograms we use the relationship where 1 lb is equivalent to 0.4536 kg. Thus, for the minimum weight:
3.35 lb × 0.4536 kg/lb = 1.5196 kg (rounded to 1.5 kg to the nearest tenth). For the maximum weight: 3.45 lb × 0.4536 kg/lb = 1.5654 kg (also rounded to 1.6 kg to the nearest tenth).