[YAPA] significant figures and averages

[Flynn, Peg]

It may be that 3 does not go into 22.54 evenly.  It ends up a repeating
decimal at the end.

Peg

 

________________________________

From: yapa-bounces at lists.ysu.edu [mailto:yapa-bounces at lists.ysu.edu] On
Behalf Of Norma Holowach
Sent: Friday, September 11, 2009 11:12 AM
To: YAPA YAPA
Subject: [YAPA] significant figures and averages

 

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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