More information reporting and rounding rules

  1. All rounding is done after the last calculation, not at each intermediate step.
  2. For this class, round final answers to three significant digits.  Unless otherwise indicated, we will assume numbers to be at least that precise and accurate.  See examples below.
  3. Answers should be given in engineering or scientific notation unless there is a justifiable reason for not doing so. 
  4. In general, for calculations involving multiplication and division, round the answer to the number of significant digits of the least precise number involved.  See page 199 of text.
  5. In general, for calculations involving addition and subtraction, round the answer to the number of decimal places of the least accurate number.  See pages 199-200 of text.
# Calculation Calculator Ans General
Ans
Class
Ans
1 32.432 . 0.012 / 33.3

 

11.687207

 

12 

0.012 least precise

 

12.7

 

2 243.1 + 93.023 - 143.82

 

192.303

 

192.3 
243.1 least accurate

 

192

 

3 123.8 . (718.4 + 8.75) 90,021.17 90,000 
8.75 least precise
90.0 . 103