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5(2f + 3) = 2(5f + 5.7)? Identify what’s incorrect about this.

User Ofershap
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Final answer:

The equation 5(2f + 3) = 2(5f + 5.7) is incorrect as the left and right sides are not equal after distributing, indicating a possible typo or mistake. When using calculators, it is important to round the final answer according to the rules of significant figures and take into account differences in precision between the numbers you are calculating with.

Step-by-step explanation:

The given equation 5(2f + 3) = 2(5f + 5.7) can be evaluated for correctness by performing the distributive property and simplifying both sides of the equation. When distributing, we get 10f + 15 = 10f + 11.4. Simplifying this, we can see that the expression on the left side does not equal the expression on the right side because 15 does not equal 11.4, implying there might be a typo or a miscalculation. The question seems to imply an equation, but as written, it is incorrect due to the inconsistency in the equality after distribution.

When using a calculator for mathematical operations, it's essential to consider significant figures and rounding rules. For example, if a calculator answer is 201.867, rounding to hundredths place results in 201.87. Similarly, when adding numbers like 6527.23 and 2, you report the answer rounded to the ones place as 6529, since 2 does not have significant decimal places.

Furthermore, when combining numbers with different levels of precision, the final answer should reflect the correct number of significant figures. For example, the sum of 1.005 and 17.88 should be represented with the proper number of significant figures after rounding if necessary. It is also noted that during calculations, intermediate answers should not be rounded off; only the final answer should be rounded.

User Mpg
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