Chapter 6 Errors in Measurement Secondary 2

Name: _____________________________ ( ) Class: S2 ___

6.1 Approximate Nature of Measurement

Measurement 1 Measurement 2

TICKET TICKET

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
cm cm

5
The length of the ticket is ______ cm, correct to The length of the ticket is ______
5.3 cm, correct to
the nearest __________.
cm 。

o -1 cm
the nearest __________.。

In general, no matter how precise the measuring tools are, the result obtained in measurement is only

appwximate exact
an ___________________________ value but NOT an ____________ value.

近似
All measurements are approximated values only.
The degree of accuracy in measurements depends on the scale intervals of the measuring tools used.

fdiffaence i
The __________________ between the measured value and the actual value of a measurement is
誤差
called an error.
間距
準確度
6.2 Maximum Absolute Errors
In Mathematics, the difference between the actual value and the estimated/measured value is called
the absolute error.
絕對 "
Suppose the exact value of the length of the ticket is 5.39 cm, then

The error of measurement 1 The error of measurement 2

5.29 -5 -29 5.3 -5.29 0
-01

cn .jdwaysp.si#vesmdler4scdeintrvald
⼆ 0 cu ⼆

In general,
The error of measurement = exact value − measured value
The error of measurement = measured value − exact value
Reminder:
The error of a measurement must be a positive number.
If a more precise measuring tool is used, the error of the measurement will be _______________.

1
 Chapter 6 Errors in Measurement Secondary 2

In real life, we seldom know the actual value of a quantity measured. Therefore, no absolute error can
be found. We can only find the largest possible error of a measurement.

Consider the following example:

The length of a credit card is measured as 10 cm. In fact, the actual length of the credit card should
9 -5
be lie between __________ 10 5
cm and __________ cm.

Let x be the actual length of the credit card.

Case 1

Credit Card If _______________

lol
95 sx <
, then by
rounding off, its approximate
value is 10 cm.

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Case 2

Credit Card If _______________

。 < x < 1 05
, then by
rounding off, its approximate
value is 10 cm.

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

95 10.5

9 10 11
Lower Limit Upper Limit
範圍
9.5 EXL 10 -5
Therefore, the range of x is: ______________________________.
Maximum absolute error (Maximum error)
= The largest possible difference between the actual value and the measured value
=
correcttnearest.no/l0-
5
__________________ 05 9
= ___________ cm >

⚫ _
The maximum error of the measurement (E)
1
= scale interval of a measuring tool * ywn ⼆ 0
5 " '

2
⚫ Upper limit = Measured value + E
⚫ Lower limit = Measured value – E
Lower Limit OActual Value oUpper Limit
t
極限 2
 Chapter 6 Errors in Measurement Secondary 2

Example

nux.erm.ie
1. Complete the following table.

砝以
The lower limit
f The upper limit Possible range of the actual
value (denoted by x)
(a) Measured value = 20 cm 2。 -

0 1江 2⼗ 1六2
(Finest marking on the measuring 1 95 E X < 20 .

cm-iw.5cm.30-J-o.lt
= 1 95
instrument = 1 cm)

(b) Measured value = 30.5 m 2

30 55 m
55
(Finest marking on the measuring 30.45 Ex < 3 0 -

= 3 0 -
45 m .

instrument = 0.1 m)

(c) 25 C (correct to the nearest C) 24.5°C 2550 C. 24.5 Ex < 25 5

(d) 350 (correct to the nearest 10) 3 45 3 55 3 45 Exc 355

* (e) 250 cm3 nearet 1 0

24 5 25 5 255
ˋ

2 45 Ex <

(correct to 2 significant figures)

(f) 250 cm3
*
uarestint.gr/l. 249 -5 2505 2495 Exc 250.5
(correct to 3 significant figures)

2. The capacity of a rice cooker is measured as 1.8 L correct to the nearest 0.1 L. Find the range of
the actual capacity of the rice cooker.

meewrfapactly-ooJL. my:1 1,85

L.max.am
Ettapactly
75 L <

3. The height of the International Commerce Centre (ICC) is measured as 484 m correct to the
nearest 2 m. Find the range of the actual height of ICC.

fheightilm.483meactlheight.de 485 m

3
 Chapter 6 Errors in Measurement Secondary 2

4. In the figure, the dimensions of the rectangle are correct to the nearest cm.
(a) Write down the maximum error of the measurement.
(b) Find the area of the rectangle using the measured values.
(c) If the actual area of the rectangle is A cm2, find the possible range of A.
6 cm
(a) ofcm 。

4 4
2

meesnred
2

(b) -6 ✗ cn
=
aree

4 cm
(c) low limit f At 24 -05
(6-05) ✗ ( 4-o.DE Ac (6+0.5)×(4+0,5) 、

1
9 - 5 E A < 2 9 ~
T
5. The capacity of a can of soft drink is measured as 350 mL, correct to the nearest mL.
(a) Find the least possible capacity of the can of soft drink.
T (b) Is it possible that the total capacity of 6 cans of soft drink is measured as 2000 mL correct to
the nearest 100 mL? Explain your answer.

349.5mL
(a)
ftp.siiblegacity 35 5 = 0 -
0 -
= ,

(b).
ftp.ssihleapccityfbsfdrinks

i.IT?smtp.ssiblef6ans=2o97-mL
= 3495 ✗ 6

maswd
fsh.dinkt.be
t.zloomllcor.t.net 100 mL )

csz5-giupperlinntfneightft.gs
ooomloneett heneereflooml.wprlimtftheneigtfan.gg
。

6. The weight of an egg is measured as 52.5 g correct to the nearest 0.5 g. Can the actual total
weight of two such eggs be 106 g? Explain your answer.
= 525⼗ 坒 = 5 2⽉
= 52 -

北 2

1055
g.LI
06

giTheatdneighfftosudnggscanrlbelobg.tn
-

etremease

4
 [email protected]
75.5

Chapter 6 Errors in Measurement Secondary 2

7. The weight of a standard bar of chocolate is measured as 76 g correct to the nearest 1 g.

(a) Find the least possible weight of a standard bar of chocolate.
8 (b) Duncan claims that the total weight of 150 standard bars of chocolate can be measured as
11.25 kg correct to the nearest 0.01 kg. Do you agree? Explain your answer.

Nogreietpossihleneiftlastpossihkneight-76-o-5-75. tg.lt
*
(a) max emr ⼆
ojg
uperlimitfneight
-765
(b) ftp.ssibkweiftf15osfandardbars g.
= 1 5 0 ✗
75.5

11325
i.IT isīnpossible 。

9
⼆

-11.325
kg

kg.io
1125
-33kg Ccortuerestoolkg )
>
=
1 1 。

8. (a) If the length of a piece of thin metal wire is measured as 5 cm correct to the nearest cm, find
the least possible length of the metal wire.
(b) The length of a piece of thin metal wire is measured as 2.0 m correct to the nearest 0.1 m.
(i) Is it possible that the actual length of this wire exceeds 206 cm? Explain your answer.
(ii) Is it possible to cut this metal wire into 46 pieces of shorter metal wires, with each
length measured as 5 cm correct to the nearest cm? Explain your answer.

ftp.ssihlebng#fanire=J-o-f=4-5(cm)cb)i nuprlimitfthe
(a)

actdbngthfh.ir e.

=
( 2,0 ⼗ 台 ) xloo

20
5 cnn.cn 6
cnn.i.IT
=

isinpossible
shter mh
bnpssibktld bngthf
46 wire
(ii).
⼆
46 ✗ 45

i.IT?sTmpossibk,=zofcm.7zo5cn
Suggested Exercise : Ex.6.2 (P.6.11) Q3 – 6, 13 – 15, 17, 19

5
 Chapter 6 Errors in Measurement Secondary 2

6.3 Relative Errors and Percentage Errors

When we compare the degree of accuracy of different measured values, we usually divide the absolute
error / maximum absolute error by the actual value. The quotient is called the relative error. A smaller
acarate
relative error indicates that the measurement is more ________________. ,
相對

absolute error maximum error

Relative error = or
actual value measured value

Note: Relative error has no units. T T

哳 。 -

Example
9. The capacity of liquid in the measuring cylinder is 114 mL, correct to the nearest mL.
For this measured capacity, find
(a) the maximum error,
(b) the relative error.
(b). relativcemr
(a) max ewr

⼆ 0 -
5mL ,
⼆

步 ,

⼆
⾼

10. Kenny uses a ruler to measure the radius of a circle, correct to the nearest cm. Given that the
1
relative error of the measurement is , find
20 TT

(a) the measured value of the radius, T

(b) the upper limit of the actual area of the circle, correct to 2 significant figures.
T
uprlimitfrdiusrad.ms:0
(a). naemr (b)
5 cm 。

= 1 0 +05
Area
0.5 Ccm )
-

Meeswedvdu
⼆ 六 =
loj ⼆ 不 v2

uprlimitfarafci.de
,

masurdvahe 2

T 10 -

5
⽣
=
-

(⼟) = 3 5 0 ( cm 7

= 1 0 (a).

6
 Chapter 6 Errors in Measurement Secondary 2

Percentage Error

Percentage error = Relative error 100 %

Example 分數 ,
3 signifiantfigres ,

11. Complete the following table.

4 4
Maximum Error Relative Error Percentage Error
(a) Measured value = 18 cm %
台 x 1 0 0

(Finest marking on the measuring 1 em .

合
instrument = 2 cm)
⼆ 5.56%
(b) Measured value = 20.4 m xlooi
(Finest marking on the measuring o.0 5 m
算 ⼆点 府
02 45%
instrument = 0.1 m) = ,

(c) Measured value = 250 cm2 1 0 0%

和
(Finest marking on the measuring 5cm
2

㫖 ⼆
六
2 %
instrument = 10 cm2)
= .

(d) 350 (correct to the nearest 10) 5

㫖 ⼆
主 和1 00 % 1 43 %

0
= .

(e) 3.02 (correct to 3 significant figures) 05 1 6 6%

o.0
以
05 㐫 底 1。 ⼆ 0
o.0 ✗
arecttneerestool =_=
(f) 8.7 (correct to 1 decimal places) o.0
5
%
⼆
wecttneerest 。 1
0 0 5
Tiny
兪 ✗ 100 = 0 %
175

12. The width of a bed is measured as 140 cm by measuring tape A correct to the nearest 10 cm. The
width of a pillow is measured as 50 cm by measuring tape B correct to the nearest 1 cm. By
comparing the percentage errors of these two measured widths, Calvin claims that the measured
width of the pillow is more accurate. Do you agree? Explain your answer.
57 %
perantgenr f widthfbed =
卡 xloot = 3

peutgeemrfridthtpillou-ofxl.it =
1 %

i.

Themasurementfthenidthfpillnismoreaanrte.hu
daim
agred is -

7
 Chapter 6 Errors in Measurement Secondary 2

5
13. A car is moving at a speed of 80 km/h. If the percentage error of this measurement is % , find
16
the upper limit and lower limit of the actual speed.
8025km/h
maemx , 以
80
卡 uprlimt-8.to -25 =
%
=

kmlhmax.am
8 卡 % bwlimit -80 -0,25
=
7975 0 ✗
⼆

= o
-25km/h

14. The time taken for Ryan to finish his homework today is measured as 80 minutes. It is given that
the percentage error of the measured time is 2.5%. Find the range of the actual time taken for
Ryan to finish his homework.
Einqndity 、

minutesktxminntesbetuactdtime8o-z.ee
maxemr = 80 x 2 -

5 = 2

< 8 0 + 2

78 E x < 82 .

15. The lower limit and the upper limit of the actual volume of a bucket are 133 mL and 138 mL
respectively.
(a) Find the maximum absolute error of the measurement.
(b) Find the percentage error correct to 3 significant figures.
138 1 33
(a) max
-

emr
J
=

-_-
= 2 m L _

(b) measurd wlnme =

⼗号
1 33 = 1 35 5 m L

i.
perantge emr

%
肯
三
x 1 0

= 1 .
85%

8
 Chapter 6 Errors in Measurement Secondary 2

16. Ann measured the length and the width of a rectangle to be 5.9 cm and 3.6 cm respectively, correct
to the nearest 0.1 cm. maxemri o.0 5

cnn.be
(a) (i) Find the perimeter of the rectangle.
(ii) Find the maximum absolute error of the perimeter of the rectangle.
(b) Find the percentage error of Ann’s measurement on the perimeter of the rectangle, correct to
3 significant figures. 585 +3.557 ✗ linit ( : 2

(a). (i)
perimetr 8.8 ccmj
=
1 ,

=
也 9 +3.6 ) X 2

= 1 9cm 。
(b). perantageemr
0
%
六
⼆

max.emrfperinetr-e.no
x 1 0 0
(ii)
5 +005 ) ㄨ 2 =
1 .
0
5 % 。

=
o -
2 Cmj

1
17. Christy measured the diameter of a ball as 3.75 cm with a relative error of .
150
* (a) Find the scale interval of the measuring tool.
(b) Christy then measured the total length of the diameters of 5 identical balls to obtain a reading
of 18.85 cm. What is the new range of the diameter of a ball?

letdcmbethediameterofaball.maxemrftdiametrofj-b.lk
(b)
(a). max.am

⼆
3-75 ✗ ⽅ 。

- o.0 2
5
= o o 2 5 ( cm ) 。

18.85-a025 E 5d < 18 -85+0.02J

iscdeiutn
18.825 E 5d < 18.875
I o.0 25 ✗ 2

3.765 E d c 3 -775
-
o.0 5 (⼀).
4
375-0025 Edc 3 -75 +0.025
more accnrāle 。

3.725 Ed <
3.775

rdteenr -_-
max.am 分⼦ unchcnged ,
分⺟ 4
meesnreduhereh.am ⼩

9
 Chapter 6 Errors in Measurement Secondary 2

18. In measuring the thickness of a piece of paper, Judy stacked 100 identical pieces and found that
the total thickness is 1.5 cm, correct to the nearest 0.1 cm.
(a) Find the lower limit and upper limit of the thickness of 100 pieces of paper.
(b) Find the lower limit and upper limit of the thickness of a piece of paper.
(c) Find the percentage error in measuring the thickness of a piece of paper.
* (d) Describe a way to improve the accuracy of measuring the thickness of a piece of paper.
(a) maxemrfthema.su remeut 0
-05
cnn.i.hu
=

limit =
1 5 - 0 - 0
5 =
1 . 45 cm

limit 1.5 ⼗ 5 < -5 5

upr
⼆ o_o = cm 。

limit 1 -45 tlooio.co 145 cm

(b) .be
了
=
⼼✗ emr

limit 55 ooyjcm
1552-9145
0 0
的 =
1 : … =

47
.
=

(c)
perantageemr = o.0 0 0
5
=
o.0 005 xloot
o.0 15 ☒ 1
o.IE 0 0

=
3 33
.
%
(d). ① useamreprecisemeasuringt.IS .

精確

nithasmekrscdeintrvaD.CM
(

easurethettalticknessfmrepiecesfpaper.Msingtesamemu.su ring
td ) .

Suggested Exercise : Ex.6.2 (P.6.21) Q4 – 7, 11 – 16

10