Final answer:
To find the overall width or height of the actual plate, precision in measurement is crucial, and one should not report beyond the known certainty of the measurement. Use the scale and ratio information provided to set up an appropriate ratio to compute the actual width.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks us to determine the overall width or height of a metal plate, which requires some understanding of measurement precision and the use of ratios for scale conversions. When it comes to measurements, it is important to report with the correct precision. As given in the figure 2.4.1 reference, the proper way to express width or any measurement is to stop at the place value you are sure about, which in the example provided is the hundredths place (1.36 cm). Therefore, for reporting the width of an object, if one is unsure of the hundredths place, one should not attempt to estimate the thousandths place. Considering the scale and ratio information provided, if one had a scale factor (scale/actual), such as 1/160, and the scale width is given, one can set up a ratio (Width-scale/actual = 4/width) to find the unknown actual width.