I would do
[(45-x)/x]*100 = -4.5
45-x/x = -0.045
45-x = -0.045x
45 = x-0.045x
45 = 0.955x
x = 47.12
check:
[(45-47.12)/47.12]*100 =
[-2.12/47.12]*100 = 44.99
I may have used too many significant figures but you get the idea.
An Ap student got a lab report back with "-4.5 % error" written in red on it. He had found the boiling point of an unknown liquid to be 45 C. What is the correct boiling point of his unknown liquid?
I know first I would write -4.5 % error = |4.5-x|/x x 100 but I don't know what to do after that.
2 answers
You didn’t explain it very good. I didn’t know what to do after what you told me.