Final answer:
The measurement '3.00 cm' is more precise because it indicates a capability to measure to the nearest millimeter, representing a more precise measuring tool compared to one that only provides a '3 cm' measurement.
Step-by-step explanation:
The subject in question relates to the topic of precision in measurements, particularly when using different measuring tools. Comparing '3 cm' and '3.00 cm', the latter represents a more precise measurement. This level of precision indicates that the measuring device has the capability to measure to the nearest hundredth of a centimeter, which is a millimeter. For a measurement reported as '3 cm', it is understood that the object measures three centimeters and zero millimeters, with the precision only to the nearest centimeter.
Considering the information provided, and referring to Figure 1.8.1, we can determine the measuring tool that gave the measurement '3.00 cm' is more precise. This is because it includes two decimal places (hundredths of a centimeter), likely visible due to the presence of millimeter (which are one-tenth of a centimeter) marks on the tool. This finer division allows for a more exact measurement of the object.
Scientific measurement practices adhere to the idea of significant figures, which reflects the precision of the measuring device and the certainty of the measurement. The more decimal places or significant figures a measurement has, the more precise the tool must be to capture such increments. For example, a ruler measuring in millimeters can be more precise than one that measures only in centimeters, as supported by the additional examples of rulers in various metric units as described in the reference materials.
Hence, the answer to the student's question 'Which measuring tool had more precise measurements?' is 'c. 3.00 cm'. This measurement implies a tool with markings fine enough to measure to the millimeter, hence supporting a more precise measurement than a tool that only measures in whole centimeters.