Question

You estimate that there are 66 cars in a parking lot. The actual number of cars is 75

.a. Find the percent error.
b.What other estimate gives the same percent error? Explain your reasoning

Answer 1

A. The percent error is 12%.

B. If you were to count 84 cars when there were only 75 it would also have the same percent error.

Explanation:

Step 1; From the given data I measured the number of cars lower than its actual count. I counted the number of cars as 66 while it was 75. So my measurement was off by 9 counts. My percent error is given by dividing the difference in values by the actual value multiplied by 100.

% error = (difference in values / actual value) × 100

My % error = (75 - 66)/ 75 × 100 = 9/75 × 100 = 12%.

Step 2; My percent error was 13.6363%. I counted the cars lower then there were so to find another similar estimate I just add the percent error to the actual number of cars.

Similar % error = Actual value + 12% = 75 + 12% = 75 + 9 = 84 cars.