Two lengths are (15.6 ± 0.2) cm and (9.1 ± 0.1) cm…
Contributed by StemPy LabTry it on paper first. A hint, the key idea and the worked solution are here when you need them.
Two lengths are and . Find their sum and their difference, each with its error and percentage error.
Need a reminder? The key ideaShow
For a sum or a difference, the absolute errors add. For a product or a quotient, the relative errors add, each multiplied by its power:
The worked solution
Have you tried it?
Work it out on paper first. It is fine to get stuck or make a mistake: that is how we learn. When you are ready, go through the solution one step at a time, and check each step against your own.
Step 1. Sum. , error , or .
Step 2. Difference. , error again , or .
Answer: , ; , .
Watch out. The same is a much bigger share of the small difference. Subtracting close numbers loses precision.
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