Question

Find the percent error in calculating the volume of the prism.

V=(bw)(h)
v=11 x 8 (7)
V=616

my choices were:
19%
10%
119%
83%

I'm not sure what it means to find the percent error. Please explain. Thanks.

Answer 1

% error is error/value

That is, if the volume is 50, with an error of 2, that's 2/50 = 4% error

So, somewhere in your problem you must have some error data. Just divide the size of the error by the size of the volume to get the % error.

Answer 2

Thanks Steve, you are always so helpful.

There was no error data. The only thing I did not type from the problem was: (The measurements are accurate to the nearest inch). This was typed over the answer choices.

Answer 3

Well, then each measurement has a possible error of .5" in either direction.

So, the dimensions were 7x8x11 then the % errors roughly add up.

.5/7 = 7% error
.5/8 = 6% error
.5/11 = 4% error

So, I'd guess 19% as my choice.

min/max dimensions would be

6.5 - 7.5
7.5 - 8.5
10.5 - 11.5
-----------------
512 - 733
error from 616
-104 to +117
-17% to +19%