[YAPA] significant figures and averages

[Norma Holowach]

	Working with significant figures and averaging several trials can
lead to some awkward answers. For example if I have the following
results for the density of a solid:  7.55 g/cm3, 8.10g/cm3, 6.89g/cm3
 the total would be 22.54 g/cm3 divided by the three trials and
appears that there should be 4 significant figures listed for the
average, 7.513g/cm3.   This does not seem right that the average
would be written to the thousandths place when the trials only went
to the hundreth place.  What am I missing here?   
 Norma Holowach, M.Ed 
 National Board Certified Teacher 
 Science Department Chairperson 
 Lakeview High School 
 300 Hillman Drive 
 Cortland, OH 44410 
 (330)637-4921 
 "Connecting with nature is an essential part of being alive." 
 National Geographic. 
 
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