(2A04A007)

Chapter 4 Approximation and Errors Write down the third significant figure for each of the following numbers.
(a) 13 642 (b) 0.070 53

(2A04A008)
Level 1 Questions
Write down the most, the second and the third significant figures for each of the following numbers.
(a) 162
§4.1 Significant Figures
(b) 297 503
(c) 10.653
(2A04A001)
(d) 0.005 001 2
Write down the most significant figure for each of the following numbers.
(a) 498 651 (b) 30 060
(2A04A009)
How many significant figures does each of the following numbers have?
(2A04A002)
(a) 3011 (b) 6301
Write down the most significant figure for each of the following numbers.
(a) 4.78 (b) 27.4
(2A04A010)
How many significant figures does each of the following numbers have?
(2A04A003)
82

(a) 0.042 (b) 58.751

Write down the most significant figure for each of the following numbers.
(a) 0.0153 (b) 0.000 658
(2A04A011)
How many significant figures does each of the following numbers have?
(2A04A004)
(a) 0.0817 (b) 0.000 49
Write down the most significant figure for each of the following numbers.
(a) 6.25 (b) 0.007 15
(2A04A012)
How many significant figures does each of the following numbers have?
(2A04A005)
(a) 915 (b) 2.0881
Write down the most significant figure for each of the following numbers.
©
(a) 3821
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(2A04A013)
(b) 0.009 234
How many significant figures does each of the following numbers have?
(c) 1.253
(a) 9171
(d) –0.0120
(b) 50.1
(c) 0.1010
(2A04A006)
Write down the second significant figure for each of the following numbers.
(2A04A014)
(a) 6531 (b) 0.2053
Round off the following numbers to 1 significant figure.
 (a) 11 054 (b) 0.0428 (2A04A022)
(2A04A015) Round off 817 059 to
Round off the following numbers to 1 significant figure. (a) 2 significant figures,
(a) 680 265 (b) 0.3017 (b) 3 significant figures,
(c) 4 significant figures.
(2A04A016)
Round off the following numbers to 2 significant figures. (2A04A023)
(a) 2370 (b) 5.0286 Round off 0.001 599 806 to
(a) 2 significant figures,
(2A04A017) (b) 3 significant figures,
Round off the following numbers to 2 significant figures. (c) 4 significant figures.
(a) 65 000 123 (b) 0.002 959
(2A04A024)
(2A04A018) Round off 49 876 to
Round off the following numbers to 3 significant figures. (a) 3 significant figures,
(a) 36 643 (b) 4840.86 (b) 2 significant figures.

(2A04A019) (2A04A025)
83

Round off the following numbers to 3 significant figures. Round off 0.209 203 to
(a) 408 871 (b) –1.234 901 (a) 2 significant figures,
(b) 5 significant figures.
(2A04A020)
Round off 2538 to (2A04A026)
(a) 1 significant figure, Round off 9.284 81 to
(b) 2 significant figures, (a) 2 significant figures,
(c) 3 significant figures. (b) 4 significant figures.

© (2A04A021) (2A04A027)
Pearson Education Asia Limited 2016

Round off 2016 to Round off 19.095 45 to

(a) 1 significant figure, (a) 4 significant figures,
(b) 2 significant figures, (b) 5 significant figures.
(c) 3 significant figures.
(2A04A028)
Round off 2.718 281 828 to
(a) 3 significant figures,
(b) 5 significant figures.
 (2A04A029) (2A04A034)
Round off each of the following measurements to the specified number of significant figures given in Express 3.124 km in the following units and round off the results to 3 significant figures.
the brackets. (a) m (b) cm
(a) 1606 g [1 significant figure]
(b) 20.758 m [3 significant figures] (2A04A035)
(c) 281.08C [4 significant figures] Express 48 149 cm in the following units and round off the results to 2 significant figures.
(d) 0.998 L [2 significant figures] (a) m (b) km

(2A04A030) (2A04A036)
Round off each of the following measurements to the specified number of significant figures given in The population of a city is 7 965 800. Round off this figure to 3 significant figures.
the brackets.
(a) 4537 kg [2 significant figures] (2A04A037)
(b) 7818.3 cm [3 significant figures] Aluminium will change into a liquid at the temperature 1220.58°F. Round off this temperature to
(c) –195.8C [3 significant figures] 2 significant figures.
(d) 146.379 mL [4 significant figures]
(2A04A038)
(2A04A031) At the end of 2013, there were 680 914 vehicles licensed in Hong Kong. Round off this figure to
Express the following fractions into decimals and round off the results to 3 significant figures. (a) 2 significant figures,
84

(b) 3 significant figures,

(a) (b)
(c) 4 significant figures.

(2A04A032) (2A04A039)
Express the following fractions into decimals and round off the results to 3 significant figures. The length of a highway is 64 670 m. Express the length in km, correct to 2 significant figures.

(a) (b)
(2A04A040)
The weight of a box of fruit is 3.9745 kg. Express the weight in g, correct to 3 significant figures.
(2A04A033)
© Express the following fractions in decimals and round off your results to 2 significant figures. §4.2 Errors
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(a)
(2A04A041)
For each of the following actual values and approximations, find the absolute error.
(b)
(a) Actual value = 25, approximation = 23
(b) Actual value = 34.6, approximation = 35
(c)
(c) Actual value = 0.73, approximation = 1
 (2A04A042)
Complete the following table. (2A04A048)
Actual value Approximation Absolute error Assume that the actual height of a table is 34.26 cm. Find the absolute error when the measurement is
taken correct to
16.7 16
(a) the nearest cm, (b) 3 significant figures.
14.69 15
–0.756 –1 (2A04A049)
On a certain day, the exchange rate between Hong Kong dollars (HK$) and American dollars (US$)
(2A04A043) is US$1 = HK$7.7807. Find the absolute error when rounding off the number 7.7807 to
Find the absolute error when each of the following numbers is rounded off to the nearest integer. (a) 3 significant figures, (b) 1 decimal place.
(a) 37.6
(b) 0.79 (2A04A050)
(a) Find the value of 12.41 + 3.4 – 0.871 and give the answer correct to 3 significant figures.
(2A04A044) (b) Find the absolute error of the result in (a).
Find the absolute error when each of the following numbers is rounded off to 3 significant figures.
(a) 591.6 (2A04A051)
(b) 0.008 372 For each of the following scale intervals of the measuring tools, find the maximum absolute error of
the measurement.
85

(2A04A045) (a) 1 cm (b) 0.2 kg (c) 0.5 s

Find the absolute error when each of the following numbers is rounded off to 4 significant figures.
(a) 97 654 (2A04A052)
(b) 124.578 Find the maximum absolute error of a measurement taken with each of the following measuring
tools.
(2A04A046) (a) A ruler with a scale interval of 1 mm
Mr Cheng estimated that the amount of donations collected on flag day would be $200 000. The (b) A beaker with a scale interval of 10 mL
actual donations collected on that day was $198 070. Find the absolute error of Mr Cheng’s (c) A mechanical scale with a scale interval of 0.1 kg
estimation.
©
Pearson Education Asia Limited 2016

(2A04A047)
The weight of Janet’s school bag is 2.81 kg. Find the absolute error when the weight is
(a) correct to the nearest 0.1 kg,
(b) correct to the nearest kg.
 (2A04A053)
In each of the following figures, find the maximum absolute error of the measuring tool.
(a)

0 cm 1 2 3 4 5

(b)
800 mL

600

400
200

(c)
86

(2A04A054)
For each of the following measured values, find the maximum absolute error.
(a) 320 mL (cor. to the nearest 20 mL)
(b) 11.8 cm (cor. to the nearest 0.1 cm)

(2A04A055)
© For each of the following measured values, find the maximum absolute error.
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(a) 950 000 s (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)

(b) 38.135 m (cor. to 5 sig. fig.)

(2A04A056)
For each of the following measured values and degrees of accuracy, find the maximum absolute
error, the lower limit and the upper limit of the actual value.
(a) 4.0 cm (cor. to the nearest 0.5 cm)
(b) 1470 m (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
 (2A04A057) (b) Find the absolute error of the approximation in (a).
For each of the following measured values and degrees of accuracy, find the maximum absolute
error, the lower limit and the upper limit of the actual value.
(a) 23.1 mL (cor. to the nearest 0.1 mL)
(b) 18.43 kg (cor. to 4 sig. fig.)

(2A04A058)
Complete the following table.
Measured Scale interval of the Maximum Lower limit of Upper limit of the
value measuring tool absolute error the actual value actual value
20° 1°
320 g 10 g
5 mm 75 mm

(2A04A059)
Complete the following table.
Measured Scale interval of the Maximum Lower limit of Upper limit of the
87

value measuring tool absolute error the actual value actual value
29 cm 1 cm
150 mL 5 mL
0.5 kg 54 kg

(2A04A060)
Complete the following table.
Lower limit of Upper limit of
Measured value
© the actual value the actual value
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393 (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)

$197 000 (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
2500 mL (cor. to the nearest 10 mL)

(2A04A061)
The price of 5 toy cars is $199.9.
(a) Find the price of each toy car, correct to 2 significant figures.
 (2A04A062) (2A04A069)
Mr Lee swims 100 m in 134.36 s, correct to the nearest 0.01 s. Assume that the actual height of Jimmy is 164.3 cm.
(a) Find the maximum absolute error of the measurement. (a) Find the absolute error when his actual height is
(b) Find the upper limit of the actual time taken. (i) correct to the nearest cm,
(ii) correct to 2 significant figures.
(2A04A063) (b) Which of the approximations obtained in (a) is more accurate? Explain your answer.
The time taken to run 100 m by a student is measured to be 14.5 s, correct to the nearest 0.1 s.
(a) What is the maximum absolute error? (2A04A070)
(b) What limits does the actual time taken lie between? Kate measures the time taken for her to finish 100 m hurdle and the result is 18.2 s, correct to
3 significant figures.
(2A04A064) (a) What is the maximum absolute error of the measurement?
The area of a flat is 45.565 m2, correct to the nearest 0.001 m2. (b) Is it possible that the actual time taken for Kate to finish 100 m hurdle is 17.8 s? Explain your
(a) Find the maximum absolute error of the measurement. answer.
(b) Find the range of the actual area of the flat.
(2A04A071)
(2A04A065) Refer to the thermometer on the right. Peter use the thermometer to measure the 50

Refer to the ruler on the right. Peter uses the ruler to measure the length of a room temperature and the measured temperature is 24°C. 40
30
line segment. The measured length of the line segment is 13.2 cm. (a) Find the maximum absolute error of the measurement.
20
88

(a) Find the maximum absolute error of the measurement. (b) Is it possible that the actual room temperature is 25.5°C? Explain your answer. 10
(b) Find the lower limit of the actual length of the line segment. 0

(2A04A066) (2A04A072)
The speed of light in vacuum is 2.998  10 m/s, correct to 4 significant figures. Find the range of the
8
If 75 is approximated to 70, find the relative error and the percentage error. (Give your answers
actual speed of light. correct to 3 significant figures.)

(2A04A067) (2A04A073)
Given that the measured value of the weight of Clara is 48 kg, find If 6.25 is approximated to 6, find the relative error and the percentage error.
© (a) the lower limit of her actual weight if the measured value is correct to the nearest 0.5 kg,
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(b) the lower limit of her actual weight if the measured value is correct to the nearest 1 kg.
(2A04A068)
Assume that the actual boiling point of a liquid is 86.57C.
(a) Find the absolute error when its boiling point is
(i) correct to the nearest C,
(ii) correct to 3 significant figures.
(b) Which of the approximations obtained in (a) is closer to the actual boiling point?
(2A04A074)
Find the relative error and the percentage error when 640 is rounded off to the nearest ten.
(2A04A075)
Find the relative error and the percentage error when 463.6 is rounded off to 3 significant figures.
(Give your answers correct to 3 significant figures.)
 (2A04A076) The measured height of the Bride’s Pool waterfall in Tai Po is 15 m, correct to the nearest m. Find
Complete the following table. the relative error.

Absolute Percentage
Actual value Approximation Relative error
error error
80 90
320 300
0.16 0.1

(2A04A077)
Complete the following table. (Give your answers correct to 3 significant figures if necessary.)

Maximum Relative Percentage

Measured value
absolute error error error
168 cm (cor. to the nearest cm)
36 kg (cor. to 2 sig. fig.)
5840 m3 (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
89

(2A04A078)
Mary estimates that there are 500 students in her school. The actual number of students is 488. Find
the relative error of Mary’s estimate correct to 2 significant figures.

(2A04A079)
The number of members of a basketball club is 1638. Find the relative error when the number of
members is correct to 3 significant figures.

© (2A04A080)
May finishes a 400 m race in 46 s, with a maximum absolute error of 0.2 s. Find the relative error of
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the measured time.

(2A04A081)
The length of a pen is measured to be 15.5 cm, correct to the nearest 0.1 cm. Find
(a) the maximum absolute error, (b) the relative error.

(2A04A082)
 (2A04A083) (2A04A090)
Peter uses a stop watch with a scale interval of 1 s to measure the time taken for Amy to swim 100 m. It is given that the scale interval of a clinical thermometer is 0.1C. If the body temperature of a baby
The measured time is 86 s. is measured as 37.5C using the clinical thermometer, find the percentage error of the measured
(a) Find the maximum absolute error. value, correct to 3 significant figures.
(b) Find the relative error.
(2A04A091)
(2A04A084) The lifetime of a light bulb is measured to be 2000 hours, correct to the nearest 5 hours. Find
John bought some food and beverages in a supermarket. He estimated the bill to be $150. If the (a) the maximum absolute error,
actual amount is $153.8, find the percentage error of John’s estimate. (Give your answer correct to (b) the relative error,
3 significant figures.) (c) the percentage error
of the lifetime of the light bulb.
(2A04A085)
During a lung function test, the total lung capacity of Tom is measured as 3.8 L. If the actual total (2A04A092)
lung capacity of Tom is 3.83 L, find the absolute error and the percentage error of the measurement. The distance between 2 cities as measured from a map is 8500 km, correct to the nearest 500 km.
Give your answers correct to 3 significant figures if necessary. Find
(a) the maximum absolute error,
(2A04A086) (b) the relative error,
Tommy estimated that the price of a watch is $13 000. It is known that the actual price of the watch is (c) the percentage error
90

$12 845. Find of the measured value.

(a) the absolute error, (Give your answers correct to 2 significant figures if necessary.)
(b) the percentage error, correct to 3 significant figures.
(2A04A093)
(2A04A087) The weight of a mobile phone is measured to be 145.0 g, correct to the nearest 0.5 g. Find
The actual length of a rod is 35 cm. If the length of the rod measured by Winnie is 34.9 cm, find (a) the maximum absolute error,
(a) the absolute error, (b) the relative error,
(b) the relative error, (c) the percentage error, correct to 3 significant figures.
(c) the percentage error, correct to 3 significant figures.
©
Pearson Education Asia Limited 2016

(2A04A088)
The wind speed is measured as 4 m/s with a maximum absolute error of 0.5 m/s. Find the percentage
error of the measured value of the wind speed.

(2A04A089)
The weight of a hotdog is measured as 67 g, correct to the nearest g. Find the percentage error of the
weight correct to 2 significant figures.
 Level 2 Questions

§4.1 Significant Figures

(2A04B001)
Write down the number of significant figures for each of the following approximate values.
(a) 34 000 (correct to the nearest thousand)
(b) 34 000 (correct to the nearest hundred)

(2A04B002)
Write down the number of significant figures for each of the following approximate values.
(a) 840 000 (correct to the nearest ten thousand)
(b) 840 000 (correct to the nearest thousand)
(c) 840 000 (correct to the nearest hundred)

(2A04B003)
Write down the number of significant figures for each of the following approximate values.
(a) 141.30 (correct to the nearest 0.01)
91

(b) 24 100 (correct to the nearest ten)

(2A04B004)
Write down the number of significant figures for each of the following approximate values.
(a) 0.418 (correct to 3 decimal places)
(b) 5410 (correct to the nearest ten)

(2A04B005)
Write down the number of significant figures for each of the following approximate values.
© (a) 18 400 (correct to the nearest hundred)
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(b) 0.001 280 (correct to the nearest 0.000 001)

(2A04B006)
Write down the possible number(s) of significant figures for each of the following approximate
values.
(a) 965
(b) 1800
 (2A04B007)
Complete the following table.
Approximate value Number of significant figures
27 (correct to the nearest integer)
12.87 (correct to 2 decimal places)
416.70 (correct to the nearest 0.01)
1 427 000 (correct to the nearest thousand)
–531 000 (correct to the nearest hundred)

(2A04B008)
(a) Round off 987.654 to 1 significant figure.
(b) Round up 987.654 to the nearest integer.
(c) Round down 987.654 to 1 decimal place.

(2A04B009)
(a) Round off 9753.2468 to the nearest hundred.
(b) Round up 9753.2468 to 2 decimal places.
92

(c) Round down 9753.2468 to 2 significant figures.

(2A04B010)
(a) Round up 204.06 to 1 significant figure.
(b) Round off 204.06 to the nearest ten.
(c) Round down 204.06 to 1 decimal place.

(2A04B011)
©
In each of the following, estimate the value of the expression by first rounding off each number in it
to 3 significant figures.
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(a) 12 141 + 68 190 (b) –4.130 + 6.754

(2A04B012)
In each of the following, estimate the value of the expression by first rounding off each number in it
to 2 significant figures.

(a) 314  275 (b)

 (2A04B013) (2A04B020)
In each of the following, estimate the value of the expression by first rounding off each number in it The weight of each identical steel ball is 5.417 kg. If 5 identical steel balls are melted and recast into
to 2 significant figures. a larger one, find the weight of the large steel ball and round off the result correct to 4 significant
(a) (2538 + 1729) ÷ 11.93 (b) 63.2 + 49.8  4.54 figures.

(2A04B014) (2A04B021)
Calculate the expression 2.8131 + 4.204  3.195 by first rounding off each number in it to The weight of a pack of 6 apples is 5.4864 kg. What is the average weight of one apple in g? (Give
(a) 2 significant figures, (b) 3 significant figures. your answer correct to 2 significant figures.)

(2A04B015) (2A04B022)
Calculate the following expressions by using a calculator and round off your results correct to The capacity of a glass is 135 mL. How much water can 17 identical glasses hold in total? Express
2 significant figures. your answer in L. (Give your answer correct to 3 significant figures.)
(a) 3.9 + 0.18
(b) 4637 + 15 094 (2A04B023)
(c) 0.0058 + 0.0943 6 L of milk is evenly distributed to 43 children. How much milk can each child get in mL? (Give
your answer correct to 3 significant figures.)
(2A04B016)
Calculate the following expressions by using a calculator and round off the results correct to (2A04B024)
93

3 significant figures. The Earth makes a complete rotation every 23.93 hours.
(a) 1.414 + 1.7325 – 0.707 (b) 3.14  2.81 + 5.889 (a) Express 23.93 hours in minutes and round off your result correct to 3 significant figures.
(b) Express 23.93 hours in seconds and round off your result correct to 4 significant figures.
(2A04B017)
@@2A04B017 (2A04B025)
Calculate the following expressions by using a calculator and round off the results correct to Bobby takes 27 minutes 26 seconds to run 5 km. Find the average running speed of Bobby in m/s.
3 significant figures. (Give your answer correct to 3 significant figures.)

(a) (b)
(2A04B026)
© The dimensions of a courier box are 42.3 cm  38.7 cm  25.3 cm. Find the volume of the courier
Pearson Education Asia Limited 2016

(2A04B018) box in mm3 and round off the result to 3 significant figures.

Calculate the expression by using a calculator and round off the result correct to
(2A04B027)
(a) 3 significant figures, (b) 5 significant figures. The monthly numbers of visitors to a museum from January to May are 186 221, 114 448, 135 570,
199 711 and 184 122 respectively. Estimate the total number of visitors to the museum from January
(2A04B019) to May by first rounding off each number to 3 significant figures.
An athlete can finish a 100 m race in 9.77 s. Find the running speed of the athlete, correct to
3 significant figures.
 (2A04B028)
The heights of 6 athletes of a basketball team are 1.83 m, 1.78 m, 1.91 m, 2.01 m, 1.89 m and 1.95 m.
Find the average height of these 6 athletes in cm correct to 3 significant figures.

(2A04B029)
The prices of 4 flats, each of area 50 m2, are shown below:
$6 359 000 $5 328 500
$7 533 300 $6 993 600
Find the average price per m2 of the 4 flats correct to 2 significant figures.

(2A04B030)
Mrs Chan earns $24 680 each month. If she saves 5% of her income each month, how much will she
save in total after 9 months? (Give your answer correct to 3 significant figures.)

(2A04B031)
In a stationery store, a pen costs $5.6 and a notebook costs $11.3. Peter buys 4 pens and 5 notebooks,
and he gets a 10% discount. The owner of the store rounds off the total amount for each customer
correct to 3 significant figures. How much change will Peter get if he pays $100?
94

(2A04B032)
Suppose the exchange rate between Japanese Yen (JPY) and Hong Kong Dollar (HKD) is
JPY 100 = HKD 6.91.
(a) An imported toy is worth for JPY 3000. How much is it in HKD?
(b) Find the exchange rate in JPY/HKD.
(Give your answer correct to 2 significant figures.)

§4.2 Errors
©
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(2A04B033)
David measured the volume of water and the measured value is 20.5 mL, correct to the nearest
0.5 mL.
(a) Find the upper limit of the actual volume of water.
(b) Find the percentage error of the measurement. (Give your answer correct to
3 significant figures.)
 (2A04B034)
The weight of a parcel is measured to be 15.0 kg, correct to the nearest 0.5 kg.
(a) Find the maximum absolute error.
(b) Find the range of the actual weight of the parcel lies.
(c) Find the percentage error of the measured value, correct to 3 significant figures.
(2A04B035)
In 2015, the number of babies born in China was 16.5 million, correct to the nearest hundred
thousand. Find the upper limit of the number of babies born in China in 2015.
(2A04B036)
Suppose that the actual dimensions of a rectangular box are 23.4 cm  40.8 cm 
(a) Round off the dimensions of the box to the nearest cm and then estimate its volume.
(b) Find the absolute error of the estimated volume of the box.
(2A04B037)
In the figure, the weight of a loaf of meat measured by an electronic balance is 2.4 kg.
(a) What is the maximum absolute error of the reading?
95
(b) What is the percentage error of this reading?
(Give your answer correct to 2 significant figures.)
(2A04B038)
The weight of a durian is measured as 3 kg with the scale shown on the right.
(a) Find the scale interval of the scale.
(b) Find the percentage error of the measured weight.
(Give your answer correct to 3 significant figures.)
© (2A04B039)
Pearson Education Asia Limited 2016
The figure shows a line segment AB.
(a) Find the relative error of the measurement.
(b) Find the percentage error of the measurement.
(c) If the actual length of AB is 2.548 cm, find the absolute error of
the measurement.
(2A04B040)
The length of a side of a square is measured as 8.7 cm, correct to the nearest Find
(a) the lower limit of the actual perimeter,
(b) the lower limit of the actual area
of the square.
(2A04B041)
The length and width of a rectangle are measured to be 5.5 cm and 3.5 cm respectively, correct to
2 significant figures. Find the lower and the upper limits of the actual perimeter of the rectangle.
(2A04B042)
The length and the width of a book are measured to be 310 mm and 192 mm respectively, correct to
the nearest 2 mm.
(a) Find the lower and the upper limits of the actual length of the book.
(b) Find the lower and the upper limits of the actual width of the book.
(c) Find the lower and the upper limits of the actual area of the book in cm2.
(2A04B043)
The length and the width of a swimming pool are 50.0 m and 10.0 m respectively. Both
measurements are correct to the nearest 0.5 m.
(a) Find the upper limits of the actual length and the actual width of the swimming pool
respectively.
(b) (i) Find the upper limit of the actual perimeter of the swimming pool.
(ii) Find the upper limit of the actual area of the swimming pool.
0
5 1 (c) Is it possible that the actual area of the swimming pool is 520 m2? Explain your answer.
4 kg 2
3 (2A04B044)
The length and width of a piece of rectangular cloth are measured to be 88.4 cm and 10.6 cm
respectively. The scale interval of the measuring tool is 0.2 cm.
(a) Find the upper and lower limits of the actual length of the piece of cloth.
(b) Find the upper and lower limits of the actual width of the piece of cloth.
(c) Is it possible that the actual area of the piece of cloth is 950 cm2? Explain your answer.
 (2A04B045) (2A04B053)
The length, width and height of a rectangular box are measured to be 12.5 cm, 5.6 cm and 9.7 cm The estimated value of the thickness of a piece of paper is 0.005 21 cm.
respectively. The scale interval of the measuring tool is 1 mm. Is it possible that the actual volume of (a) Round off the estimated value (in mm) to the nearest 0.002 mm.
the box is 670 cm3? Explain your answer. (b) Find the percentage error of the approximation in (a), correct to 4 significant figures.

(2A04B046) (2A04B054)
The weights of 4 students are 48.6 kg, 47.1 kg, 38.9 kg and 42.5 kg. Find the relative error of their By using a ruler with a scale interval 1 mm, the length of a pen is measured to be x cm and the
average weight if it is rounded off to the nearest 0.1 kg. percentage error is 0.625%. Find the value of x.

(2A04B047) (2A04B055)
The capacity of a can is measured to be 355 mL. If the relative error is 0.01, find The lower limit and the upper limit of the actual volume of a bucket are 133 mL and 138 mL
(a) the maximum absolute error of the measurement, respectively.
(b) the range of the actual capacity of the can. (a) Find the maximum absolute error of the measurement.
(b) Find the percentage error correct to 3 significant figures.
(2A04B048)
If the time to cook a fish well is measured to be 10 minutes with a percentage error of 10%, find the (2A04B056)
maximum absolute error. The weight of a newborn baby is measured to be 3.34 kg, and the percentage error of the measurement is
5%.
96

(2A04B049) (a) Find the maximum absolute error.

The change in temperature of a solution is measured to be 20C. If the percentage error of the (b) What limits does the actual weight of the newborn baby lie between?
measured temperature change is 5%, find its maximum absolute error. (c) Is it possible that the actual weight of the baby is 3.5 kg? Explain your answer.

(2A04B050) (2A04B057)
The speed of a vehicle is measured to be 80 km/h with a percentage error of 5% by radar. Find the The capacity of a coffee pot is measured to be 1500 mL, correct to the nearest 5 mL. The capacity of a
lower limit and the upper limit of the actual speed. coffee mug is measured to be 230.0 mL, correct to the nearest 0.5 mL.
(a) For these two measured values, find
(2A04B051) (i) the maximum absolute errors,
© (ii) the relative errors.
The total weight of 50 identical marbles is measured to be 1.2 kg with a percentage error of .
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(b) From the results obtained in (a)(ii), determine which measured value is more accurate.
Find the upper limit of the actual weight of each marble.
(2A04B058)
(2A04B052) David measures his weight and the weight of a mouse. His measured weight is 56.4 kg, correct to the
The height of a door is measured to be 2.01 m with a percentage error of 1%. Find nearest 0.1 kg. The measured weight of the mouse is 10.65 g, correct to the nearest 0.01 g.
(a) the maximum absolute error, (a) For these two measured values, find the percentage errors.
(b) the range of the actual height of the door. (Give your answers correct to 3 significant figures.)
(b) Which measured value is more accurate? Explain your answer.
 (2A04B059)
It is given that the length of a line segment AB is measured as 6.53 cm, correct to the nearest 0.01 cm,
while the length of a line segment CD is measured as 6.5 cm, correct to the nearest 0.1 cm. Peter
claims that AB must be longer than CD. Do you agree? Explain your answer.
(2A04B060)
Ann and Tom use two different balances to measure the weights of two different objects. Ann
measures the weight of a piece of wood to be 10 kg, where it actually weighs 10.4 kg. Tom measures
the weight of a piece of iron to be 3 kg, where it actually weighs 2.8 kg.
(a) Find the absolute errors and relative errors made by Ann and Tom respectively.
(b) Tom claims that the measurement with a smaller absolute error is more accurate. Is he correct?
Whose measurement do you think is more accurate?
(2A04B061)
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.
(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.
97
(2A04B062)
The volume of a carton of milk is measured as 1.5 L, correct to the nearest 0.1 L. Suppose the carton
of milk is shared with n children such that each child receives a glass of milk, measured as 207 mL
correct to the nearest mL.
(a) Find the lower and upper limits of the actual volume of a carton of milk.
(b) Find the lower and upper limits of the actual volume of a glass of milk.
(c) Find the least possible value of n.
© (2A04B063)
Pearson Education Asia Limited 2016
A photo frame is in the shape of a rectangle. All the measurements
are shown in the figure and are correct to the nearest cm.
(a) Find the maximum absolute error of the measurement.
(b) The actual area of the photo frame is x cm2. Find the range
of values of x.
Level 3 Questions
(2A04C001)
The lengths of pipe A and pipe B are measured to be 2.6 cm and 3.8 cm respectively, correct to the
nearest 0.2 cm. If the two pipes are connected to form a new pipe, find the lower limit and the upper
limit of the actual length of the new pipe.
(2A04C002)
It is given that the actual length and width of a blackboard are 2.53 m and 1.25 m respectively.
(a) By rounding off the actual area to the nearest 0.1 m2, find the percentage error correct to
3 significant figures.
(b) (i) By rounding off the actual length and width correct to the nearest 0.1 m, estimate the area
of the blackboard.
(ii) Find the percentage error occurred in (b)(i), correct to 3 significant figures.
(2A04C003)
The length, width and height of a metal cuboid is 24.4 cm, 15.8 cm and 5.0 cm respectively. All the
measurements are correct to the nearest 0.1 cm.
(a) (i) Find the range of the actual volume of the metal cuboid. (Give your answers correct to the
nearest cm3.)
(ii) Is it possible that the actual volume of the metal cuboid is more than 2 L? Explain your
answer.
(b) The price of the metal cuboid is $9638. For the lower limit of the actual volume of the
metal cuboid, find the price rate of the metal cuboid in $/cm3.
(Give your answer correct to 3 significant figures.)
(2A04C004)
(a) The difference between the upper limit and the lower limit of a measurement is 2x. Find the
scale interval of the measuring tool in terms of x.
(b) The lower limit and the upper limit of the measured weight of a pack of rice are a kg and b kg
respectively. If the percentage error of the measurement is 2%, express a in terms of b.
 (2A04C005)
Mr Lam asks his staff to estimate the capacity of a swimming pool. Peter and John record their Multiple Choice Questions
measurements in the sketches below, and then calculate the estimated capacity based on these
sketches. (2A04D001)
State the most significant figure for the number 0.5831.
A. 0
B. 1
C. 5
D. 8

(2A04D002)
(a) Find the estimated capacities of the swimming pool made by Peter and John respectively. How many significant figures does the number 0.170 20 have?
(b) Given that the estimated capacity made by Peter is smaller than the actual capacity, and the A. 3
percentage error is exactly 2%, what is the actual capacity of the swimming pool? B. 4
(c) Using the results of (a) and (b), find the percentage error of the estimated capacity made by C. 5
John. Whose estimate is more accurate? D. 6

(2A04C006) (2A04D003)
98

(a) Judy measures the length of a cube to be 10 cm. If the percentage error of the measured length is How many significant figures does the number 10.0032 have?
1%, what are the lower limit and the upper limit of the actual length? A. 3
(b) Judy uses the measurement in (a) to calculate the area of one face of the cube. What is the B. 4
percentage error of the area obtained? C. 5
(c) Judy also uses the measurement in (a) to calculate the volume of the cube. What is the D. 6
percentage error of the volume obtained?
(d) Compare the percentage errors of the measurements in (a), (b) and (c). Which one is the largest? (2A04D004)
How many significant figures does the number 0.093 004 500 have?
A. 4
© B. 6
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C. 8
D. 9

(2A04D005)
Round off 3 289 385 to 4 significant figures.
A. 3289
B. 3290
C. 3 289 000
 D. 3 290 000 D. 4
(2A04D006) (2A04D011)
Round off 3.141 592 654 to 3 significant figures. After rounding off a number to 3 significant figures, the value obtained is 0.690. The number may be
A. 3.14 A. 0.6881.
B. 3.1416 B. 0.6885.
C. 3.142 C. 0.6895.
D. 3.15 D. 0.6905.

(2A04D007) (2A04D012)
Round off 609 872.1 to 3 significant figures. A number x is rounded off to 35 100, correct to 4 significant figures. Which of the following is a
A. 600 000 possible value of x?
B. 609 000 A. 35 059
C. 610 000 B. 35 099
D. 619 900 C. 35 105
D. 35 145
(2A04D008)
Round off 6.987 to 2 significant figures. (2A04D013)
A. 7 When 56.420 45 is rounded off to 56.420, the number of significant figures in the result is
99

B. 6.9 A. 7.
C. 7.0 B. 5.
D. 6.99 C. 4.
D. 3.
(2A04D009)
(2A04D014)
Round off to 4 significant figures.
When 4881 kg is rounded off to the nearest 1000 kg, the most significant figure in the result is
A. 0.6666 A. 4.
B. 0.6667 B. 5.
© C. 0.6670 C. 8.
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D. 0.6700 D. 9.

(2A04D010) (2A04D015)
After rounding off 9856.428 to n significant figures, the value obtained is 9860. What is the value of When 184.281 is rounded off to the nearest integer, the number of significant figures in the result is
n? A. 2.
A. 1 B. 3.
B. 2 C. 4.
C. 3 D. 5.
 (2A04D016)

A. (correct to 6 decimal places)

B. (correct to 6 decimal places)
C. (correct to 6 significant figures)
D. (correct to 6 significant figures)

(2A04D017)

A. (correct to 3 significant figures)

B. (correct to 4 decimal places)
C. (correct to 5 significant figures)
D. (correct to 6 decimal places)

(2A04D018)
The weight of 1 cm3 of a solution is 1.012 g. Find the weight of 8 cm3 of the solution correct to
3 significant figures.
100

A. 8.09 g
B. 8.096 g
C. 8.10 g
D. 8.101 g

(2A04D019)
The selling price of 560 g of tea is $86.4. Find the selling price of 1 g of tea. (Give your answer
correct to 4 significant figures.)
A. $0.15
© B. $0.1543
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C. $6.48
D. $6.481
 (2A04D020) (2A04D024)
The total weight of a half dozen apples is 1.985 kg. Find the average weight of an apple correct to Mr Chan drives at 40 km per hour on average. Find the average speed in m/s. (Give your answer
3 significant figures. correct to 3 significant figures.)
A. 1985 g A. 0.583 m/s
B. 1900 g B. 0.972 m/s
C. 331 g C. 11.1 m/s
D. 330 g D. 666.7 m/s

(2A04D021) (2A04D025)
The result obtained by rounding off the number 357.752 to 3 significant figures is equal to the result
obtained by rounding it off to A. 430 cm3 (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
A. 3 decimal places. B. 4290 cm3 (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
B. 2 decimal places. C. 4298 cm3 (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
C. 1 decimal place. D. 4300 cm3 (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
D. the nearest integer.
(2A04D026)
(2A04D022) The number of staff in a company is 162. If it is approximated to 160, the absolute error is
Find an estimate for 0.47  0.58 by rounding off the result to 2 significant figures. A. –2.
101

A. 0.27
B. .
B. 0.2726
C. 0.273
C. .
D. 0.30
D. 2.
(2A04D023)
Consider the expression . Round off each number correct to 2 significant figures, (2A04D027)
and then estimate the value of the expression. Billy uses the measuring cylinder in the figure to measure the volume of a liquid. Find the mL

A. 208 maximum absolute error of the measurement. 40

© B. 200 A. 2.5 mL 30
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C. 194.7 B. 5 mL 20
D. 192 C. 10 mL 10
D. 15 mL
 (2A04D028) (2A04D032)
In a 50 m freestyle swimming competition, Peggy made a record of 30.27 s, correct to 4 significant The height of a pole is 3.12 m, correct to the nearest 0.01 m. What is the range of the actual height of
figures. Find the maximum absolute error of the measurement. the pole?
A. 0.005 s A. 2.62 m to 3.62 m
B. 0.01 s B. 3.07 m to 3.17 m
C. 0.05 s C. 3.115 m to 3.125 m
D. 0.1 s D. 3.1195 m to 3.1205 m

(2A04D029) (2A04D033)
Which of the following gives a maximum absolute error of 5 cm? The lifetime of a battery is 8.5 h, correct to the nearest 0.5 h. Which of the following cannot be the
A. 320 cm (cor. to 2 sig. fig.) actual lifetime of the battery?
B. 1320 cm (cor. to the nearest 5 cm) A. 8.2 h
C. Scale interval = 5 cm B. 8.27 h
D. Upper limit = 920 cm, lower limit = 900 cm C. 8.51 h
D. 8.69 h
(2A04D030)
Which of the following measurements has/have a maximum absolute error of 0.2? (2A04D034)
I. Measured value = 2.0, correct to the nearest 0.4 Peter received pocket money of $960 last year. If the figure is estimated as $1000, the relative error
102

II. Using a measuring tool with a scale interval of 0.2 of the estimation is
III. Measured value = 10, relative error = 0.02
A. .
A. I only
B. II only
B. .
C. III only
D. I and III only
C. .

(2A04D031)
D. .
The area of a country park is 65 000 m2, correct to the nearest 100 m2. Which of the following is the
© possible range of the actual area of the country park?
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Lower limit Upper limit (2A04D035)

2
A. 64 500 m 65 500 m2 The diameter of a round table is 110.7 cm, correct to 4 significant figures. Find the relative error of
B. 64 550 m2 65 450 m2 the measurement.
C. 64 900 m2 65 100 m2 A. 0.000 452 (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
D. 64 950 m2 65 050 m2 B. 0.000 903 (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)
C. 0.05
D. 0.1
 (2A04D036) (2A04D040)
The actual weight of a packet of beans falls within (5000 – 20) g and (5000 + 20) g. Find the relative Find the percentage error when the result of the expression 9.48 + 16.89 is rounded off to 2
error of the weight of the packet of beans. significant figures. (Give your answer correct to 2 decimal places.)
A. 0.002 A. 1.40%
B. 0.004 B. 1.41%
C. 10 C. 1.42%
D. 20 D. 1.43%

(2A04D037) (2A04D041)
Mr Lee estimates that there are 1200 visitors attending the opening ceremony. In fact, only 1028
The lifetime of a light bulb is measured to be 1800 h with a relative error of . The range of the
visitors have attended. Find the percentage error of the estimation. (Give your answer correct to
2 decimal places.) actual lifetime of the light bulb is
A. 4.17% A. 1782 h  the actual lifetime < 1818 h.
B. 14.33% B. 1750 h  the actual lifetime < 1850 h.
C. 16.73% C. 1700 h  the actual lifetime < 1900 h.
D. 18.54% D. 1620 h  the actual lifetime < 1980 h.

(2A04D038) (2A04D042)
103

The actual weight of a DVD player is 2.5 kg. If it is measured to be 2.45 kg, the percentage error of The length of the Channel Tunnel between England and France is measured to be , with a
the measurement is percentage error of 1%. What is the upper limit of the actual length of the tunnel?
A. 2%. A. 50 500 m
B. 2.04%. B. 50 752.5 m
C. 20%. C. 51 005 m
D. 20.4%. D. 51 510 m

(2A04D039) (2A04D043)
The length of a table is measured to be 500 cm, correct to 2 significant figures. What is the A leaf weighs 65 g with a percentage error of 0.4%. Find the range of its actual weight.
© percentage error of the measured length? A. 64 g  the actual weight < 66 g
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A. 0.1% B. 64.5 g  the actual weight < 65.5 g

B. 0.2% C. 64.6 g  the actual weight < 65.4 g
C. 0.5% D. 64.74 g  the actual weight < 65.26 g
D. 1%
 (2A04D044) (2A04D048)
The weight of a golden ring is measured to be 0.852 g with a percentage error of 1.5%. Which of the The width and the length of a rectangle are measured as 3 cm and 5 cm correct to the nearest cm
following may be the actual weight of the golden ring? respectively. Let x cm2 be the actual area of the rectangle. Find the range of values of x.
A. 0.839 g A. 11.25  x < 19.25
B. 0.842 g B. 11.25 < x  19.25
C. 0.865 g C. 14.5  x < 15.5
D. 0.867 g D. 14.5 < x  15.5

(2A04D045) (2A04D049)
The area of a flat is measured to be 290 m2, correct to the nearest x m2. If the upper limit of the actual The length of the side of a square is measured as 15 cm correct to the nearest cm. Find the percentage
area of the flat is 292.5 m2, find the value of x. error in calculating the perimeter of the square correct to the nearest 0.1%.
A. 1 A. 0.8%
B. 2 B. 3.3%
C. 2.5 C. 8.3%
D. 5 D. 33.3%

(2A04D046) (2A04D050)
The weight of a stone is measured to be 16 kg, correct to the nearest x kg. If the percentage error is The weight of a pack of sugar is measured as 350 g correct to the nearest g. If the pack of sugar is
104

6.25%, find the value of x. divided into n packs such that the weight of each pack is measured as 10 g correct to the nearest g,
A. 0.1 find the least possible value of n.
B. 0.5 A. 32
C. 1 B. 33
D. 2 C. 34
D. 35
(2A04D047)
The weight of a correction pen is x g, correct to the nearest g. If the percentage error is 0.4%, find the
value of x.
© A. 100
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B. 120
C. 125
D. 130
105 Pearson Education Asia Limited 2016