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<P>Working&nbsp;with&nbsp;significant&nbsp;figures&nbsp;and&nbsp;averaging&nbsp;several&nbsp;trials&nbsp;can&nbsp;lead&nbsp;to&nbsp;some&nbsp;awkward&nbsp;answers. For&nbsp;example&nbsp;if&nbsp;I&nbsp;have&nbsp;the&nbsp;following&nbsp;results&nbsp;for&nbsp;the&nbsp;density&nbsp;of&nbsp;a&nbsp;solid:&nbsp; 7.55&nbsp;g/cm3, 8.10g/cm3, 6.89g/cm3&nbsp; the&nbsp;total&nbsp;would&nbsp;be&nbsp;22.54&nbsp;g/cm3&nbsp;divided&nbsp;by&nbsp;the&nbsp;three&nbsp;trials&nbsp;and&nbsp;appears&nbsp;that&nbsp;there&nbsp;should&nbsp;be&nbsp;4&nbsp;significant&nbsp;figures&nbsp;listed&nbsp;for&nbsp;the&nbsp;average, 7.513g/cm3.&nbsp;&nbsp; This&nbsp;does&nbsp;not&nbsp;seem&nbsp;right&nbsp;that&nbsp;the&nbsp;average&nbsp;would&nbsp;be&nbsp;written&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;thousandths&nbsp;place&nbsp;when&nbsp;the&nbsp;trials&nbsp;only&nbsp;went&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;hundreth&nbsp;place.&nbsp; What&nbsp;am&nbsp;I&nbsp;missing&nbsp;here?&nbsp; </P>

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Norma&nbsp;Holowach, M.Ed&nbsp;<br>


National&nbsp;Board&nbsp;Certified&nbsp;Teacher&nbsp;<br>


Science&nbsp;Department&nbsp;Chairperson&nbsp;<br>


Lakeview&nbsp;High&nbsp;School&nbsp;<br>


300&nbsp;Hillman&nbsp;Drive&nbsp;<br>


Cortland, OH&nbsp;44410&nbsp;<br>


(330)637-4921&nbsp;<br>


"Connecting&nbsp;with&nbsp;nature&nbsp;is&nbsp;an&nbsp;essential&nbsp;part&nbsp;of&nbsp;being&nbsp;alive." <br>


National&nbsp;Geographic. <br>


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