Final answer:
The percent error of the measurement is approximately 1.1%.
Step-by-step explanation:
To calculate the percent error, we first find the absolute difference between the measured value and the actual value. In this case, the absolute difference is |17.8 - 17.6| = 0.2 inches. Next, we divide the absolute difference by the actual value and multiply by 100 to get the percent error. So, (0.2 / 17.8) * 100 = 1.12%. Therefore, the percent error of the measurement is approximately 1.1%.