a=40.0 plus-minus 0.1 cm (uncertainty)

Question

b=2.5 plus-minus 0.05 cm (uncertainty)

Find a/b and its uncertainty

Is it 16cm plus-minus 1cm of uncertainty

or is it 16.0cm plus-minus 0.4 cm of uncertainty

Answer 1

multiplying or dividing
...add the percent uncertainties

16 ± 2.25%

the cm are cancelled in the division process...it's just a ratio