GE4- Mathematics in the Modern World

GE4- MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD

(MODULE 7)

NORTH LUZON PHILIPPINES STATE COLLEGE

San Nicolas, Candon City, Ilocos Sur

JOHN ANTONIO G ENCARNACION II, PhD

 GE4- Mathematics in the Modern World

OVERVIEW
This module discusses the concept on measurement of physical quantities (with their
corresponding units) commonly encountered in the real world. It also discusses the
uncertainty in measurement which leads to the concept on significant figures (with its set of
rules). Conversion of units (from SI to English and vice versa) is also discussed

Learning Objectives
At the end of the module, and having completed the essential reading and activities, students should be
able to:
1. Define measurement of physical quantities commonly encountered in the real world)
2. Determine the correct units (in both SI and English) for the given physical quantities
3. Apply the rules on significant figures in solving measurement problems (including
conversion from one system of unit to another)
 GE4- Mathematics in the Modern World

Module 7- MEASUREMENT AND QUANTITIES

CONCEPT OF MEASUREMENT

What do we do when we are asked to measure our weight or height? How do

we measure the length of a table, or find the distance from one point to
another? When we gas up at the gasoline station, you have to decide how
many liters of gasoline you need to put in your gas tank. Electric meters and
water maters are installed in household to determine electricity and water
consumption. For reference, a table of some physical quantities with their
corresponding units are given below:

PHYSICAL QUANTITY UNITS (METRIC) UNITS (ENGLISH)

Length/Distance meter foot

Distance kilometer mile

Mass kilogram Slug (pound)

Time second second

Area square meter, hectare square foot, acre

Volume cubic meter cubic foot

Capacity Liter Gallon

Density Kilogram/cubic meter Pound/cubic foot

Electrical Consumption Kilowatt-hour

Force Newton pound

Energy Joule Foot-pound

Power Kilowatt Horsepower

Heat Calorie British Thermal Unit

Temperature Celsius, centigrade, Fahrenheit

kelvin

There are still many other quantities, but the above will suffice for our
discussion on measurements and quantities. Furthermore, we will limit our
discussion to the Metric System since the Metric System ( or SI, short for
SYSTEME INTERNATIONALE) is the one used in the Philippines and in most
countries.
 GE4- Mathematics in the Modern World

SIGNIFICANT FIGURES

Suppose you just received your electric bill for the month it says you
consumed 323.345748373 kilowatt-hours, what would be your reaction? Is
there anything odd in the report? You might exclaim, "how on earth was the
electric company able to come up with such value?" This shows that there is a
limitation in measuring these physical quantities. Highway signs indicate the
distance from one town to another in kilometers, but height is measured in
meters.

These limitations in measurement necessitate the application of significant

figures in solving problems involving measurements. It is therefore important to
remember the rules on significant figures. There are two sets of rules to
follow: one - on the number of significant digits for a given measurement, and
two – on the operations on significant figures. Take note however, that only
measured quantities are governed by significant figures. Defined values, on
the other hand, are not affected by significant figures because they are exact.
When we say 1000 meters = 1 kilometer, 1000 meters is exactly 1 kilometer. .

Rules for Determining the Number of Significant Digits

1. All nonzero digits are significant.

234 – 3 SF

34567 – 5SF

2. Zeroes between nonzero digits are significant.

1009 - 4SF

109 – 3SF

3. Zeroes to the right of nonzero digits but to the left of an implied decimal
point (except when the decimal point is expressed) are not significant.
A bar above the zero is significant up to the indicated place value of the
zero.

2340000 - 3 SF

2340000. -7 SF

- 6 SF

4. Zeroes to the left of nonzero digits are not significant.

00005 - 1 SF

00223 - 3SF

5. Zeroes to the right of a decimal point but to the left of nonzero digits are
not significant.

.0024 - 2 SF
 GE4- Mathematics in the Modern World

6. Zeroes to the right of both the decimal point and the nonzero digits are
significant.

.00450 3 SF

.0045 2SF

Examples:

1. 123456, 123.456, and 12345.6 all have 6 significant digits. (Rule 1)

2. 12045 has 5 significant digits. (Rule 2)

3. 12450 has only 4 significant digits. The zero is not significant. (Rule 3)

4. 12450. has 5 significant digits. The zero is significant because the

decimal point is explicitly written. (Rule 3)

5. 1 has 5 significant digits. The zero is significant because of the

bar above it. (Rule 3)

6.
the bar above it. (Rule 3)

7. 000345 has only 3 significant digits. The three zeroes are not
significant (Rule 4)

8. .00005 has only 1 significant digit. All the zeroes are not significant
( Rule 5)

9. .50000 has 5 significant digits. All the zeroes are significant ( Rule 6)

Rules of Operation of Significant Figures

1. Addition and Subtraction. The sum should be rounded off to the least
number of decimal places of any of the addends

2. Mutiplication and Division. The product or quotient should be rounded

off to the least number of significant digits of any of the factors.

Examples:

1. The following are measured lengths of 3 sections of a long rod: 20.34

cm, 31.453 cm, and 25.3425 cm. What is the total length of the rod?

20.34 cm

31.453 cm

25.3425 cm

75.1355 = 75.14 cm

Since these are measurements, we have to round off the final answer
to two decimal places only. Why do we have to round off the final
answer?

2. To determine the density of an rectangular block ( in grams/cm 3, the

 GE4- Mathematics in the Modern World

mass and dimensions of the object were measured to be 24.3 grams

and 3.4 cm, 2.5 cm, and 1.134 cm, respectively. What is the density of
the rectangular block?

First, we find the volume = (3.4 cm)(2.5 cm)(1.134 cm) = 9.639 cm 3.

We then find the density of the block by dividing mass over volume.
So density = 24.3 grams/9.6 cm3 = 2.53125 grams/cm 3. We have to
round the final answer to two significant digits, so density = 2.5 g/cm3

REFERENCES

Reyes, Juan Apolinario. (2018). Mathematics in the Modern World. Intramuros, Manila:
MSA Unlimited Books Library Publishing, Inc.
3G E-Learning. (2018). Mathematics in the Modern World. . New York: 3-G E Learning
LLC, USA

www.3ge-learning.com