Percentage error

[ronaldoshaky]

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

the frequency squared is 106.01 k^2 Hz^2. The percentage error is 10 %. How do you quote the quantity



2. Relevant equations

I said (106.0 +/- 10.6) k^2 Hz^2

My question is rounding to (106 +/- 11) k^2 Hz^2 wrong? 11 k^2 Hz^2 seems to be more than 10 per cent. Thanks



3. The attempt at a solution

[diazona]

Well, it's not much of a difference between 10.6% and 11%. In the real world, you'd probably write 106 ± 11 because giving more than two significant figures in the error is pretty useless.

But if this is a problem for a class... I couldn't guarantee that 106 ± 11 would be accepted as correct. Sometimes the rules used for grading homework problems don't quite correspond to real life. (Often for good reason, but sometimes not)