Question

Question #15837

Answer 1

The uncertainty in the sum `"(0.032 ± 0.001 g) + (0.033 ± 0.001 g)"` is `"±0.002 g"`.The average of the two measurements is `"0.032 g"`, with an uncertainty of `" ± 0.001) g"`

Explanation:

The units don't matter, so let's deal with just the numbers.

`"0.032 ± 0.001"`
`"0.033 ± 0.001"`
`stackrel(——————)("0.065 ± 0.002")`

The sum of the two numbers is `0.065`, with an uncertainty of `± 0.002`.

The average of the two numbers is

`"0.065 ± 0.002"/2 = 0.032 ± 0.001`

Your uncertainty is in the third decimal place, so you can have no more than three decimal places.

You must round off your calculator's answer of `0.0325` to `0.032`.