Lesson 5Measurement Error (Part 2)

Learning Goal

Let’s check how accurate our calculations are.

Activity 1: Measurement Error for Area

Problem 1

Imagine that you measure the length and width of a rectangle and you know the measurements are accurate within 5% of the actual measurements. If you use your measurements to find the area, what is the maximum percent error for the area of the rectangle?

Activity 2: Measurement Error for Volume

Problem 1

The length, width, and height of a rectangular prism were measured to be 10 cm, 12 cm, and 25 cm. Assuming that these measurements are accurate to the nearest cm, what is the largest percent error possible for:

  1. each of the dimensions?

  2. the volume of the prism?

Problem 2

If the length, width, and height of a right rectangular prism have a maximum percent error of 1%, what is the largest percent error possible for the volume of the prism?