Question

Emma measured a line to be 16 inches long. If the actual length of the line is 15.3 inches, then what was the percent error of the measurement, to the nearest tenth of a percent?

Answer 1

`\sf\% \: error = ( |approx - actual| )/(actual) * 100`

• Approx = 16
• Actual = 15.3

`\tt\% \: error = ( |16 - 15.3| )/(15.3) * 100`

`\tt\% \: error = ( |0.7| )/(15.3) * 100`

`\tt\% \: error = ( |0.7| )/( (153)/(10) ) * 100`

`\tt\% \: error = (0.7)/( (153)/(10) ) * 100`

`\tt\% \: error = ( (7)/(10) )/( (153)/(10) ) * 100`

`\tt\% \: error = (7 )/( 153 ) * 100`

`\tt\% \: error = (7 00)/( 153 )`

`\tt\% \: error =4.57\%`

• Thus, The % error is 4.6% when rounded off to the nearest tenth!!~

Answer 2

4.6% (nearest tenth)

Explanation:

percent error = (|approx - actual| ÷ actual) × 100

percent error = (|16 - 15.3| ÷ 15.3) × 100

= 4.6% (nearest tenth)