Question

Denise guessed that the elephant at the zoo weighed 10,000 pounds. It actually weighed 12,400 pounds. Yesia guessed that the hippopotamus weighed 2,500 pounds and it actually weighed 3,600 pounds.Whose guess had the smaller percent error?

Answer 1

Answer: weight of elephant has smaller percent error.

Explanation:

Percent error =
`\frac{|\text{estimated value -actual value}|}{\text{actual value}}]*100`

Estimated weight of elephant = 10,000 pounds

Actual weight of elephant = 12,400 pounds

Percent error of weight =
`(|12400-10000|)/(12400)*100\%\approx19.35\%`

Estimated weight of hippopotamus = 2,500 pounds

Actual weight of hippopotamus = 3,600 pounds

Percent error of weight =
`(|2500-3600|)/(3600)*100\%\approx30.55\%`

Since 19.35 < 30.55

hence, weight of elephant has smaller percent error.