Chapter 1 Approximation and Errors

1 Approximation and Errors

Challenging Worksheet 1 ∴ The actual length of the book cannot be

1. Let a and b be the present ages of John and Peter 20.35 cm.
respectively. (b) ∵ 20.49 lies in both the ranges in (1) and (2).
From (I) and (II), 28a is one of the ten integers ∴ The actual length of the book can be
from 895 to 904. 20.49 cm.
895 904
28 3. In Fig. A, the scale interval of the ruler is 1 mm.
∴ a lies between = 31.9… and 28 =
32.2… inclusive.
1
×1
∴ a = 32 Maximum absolute error = 2 mm = 0.5 mm
From (I) and (III), 28ab is one of the ten integers Measured
from 3 575 to 3 584. ∴ 82 mm
distance
3575 3584
Lower limit (82 − 0.5) mm = 81.5 mm
∴ b lies between 28×32 = 3.9… and 28×32 = 4
inclusive. Upper limit (82 + 0.5) mm = 82.5 mm
∴ b=4
∴ The present age of John is 32 and the present In Fig. B, the scale interval of the stopwatch is 1 s.
age of Peter is 4. 1
×1
Maximum absolute error = 2 s = 0.5 s
2. Let u cm be the actual length of the book, while
x cm be the measured length of the book obtained Measured
∴ 5s
by using the ruler with scale interval 1 cm. time
1 Lower limit (5 − 0.5) s = 4.5 s
×1
∵ Maximum absolute error = 2 cm Upper limit (5 + 0.5) s = 5.5 s
= 0.5 cm
1 81.5
∴ Relative error = 40 Lower limit of the actual speed = 5.5 mm/s
0.5 1 = 14.81… mm/s
x = 40 82.5
x = 20 Upper limit of the actual speed = 4 .5 mm/s
∴ 19.5  u < 20.5..……………………………(1) = 18.33… mm/s
Let y cm be the measured length of the book ∴ The integral value of u must lie between
obtained by using the ruler with scale interval 14.81… and 18.33….
0.25 cm. ∴ The possible integral values of u are 15, 16, 17
1 and 18.
×0. 25
∵ Maximum absolute error = 2 cm 1
= 0.125 cm ×0.5
4. Maximum absolute error = 2 cm
= 0.25 cm
Measured Lower Upper limit
value (cm) limit (cm) (cm)

1 2.0 − 0.25 2.0 + 0.25

2.0
= 1.75 = 2.25
∴ Relative error = 164
0.125 4.0 − 0.25 4.0 + 0.25
1 4.0
= 3.75 = 4.25
y = 164
y = 20.5 8.0 − 0.25 8.0 + 0.25
8.0
= 7.75 = 8.25
∴ 20.375  u < 20.625..……………………..…
(2) Maximum possible volume of the solid
(a) ∵ 20.35 does not lie in the range in (2). = (8.252 − 3.752 − 1.752)  8.25 cm3

© Oxford University Press 2021 Challenging Worksheet 1 Solution sol-1

Solutions

= 420.234 375 cm3

∵ 420.234 375 cm3 < 425 cm3
∴ The actual volume of the solid cannot be
greater than 425 cm3.

5. (a) Maximum absolute error of Benson’s

measurement
1
×1
=2 cm3
= 0.5 cm3
∴ Relative error of Benson’s measurement
0.5
= 66
1
= 132
Maximum absolute error of Dora’s
measurement
1
×0.1
=2 g
= 0.05 g
∴ Relative error of Dora’s measurement
0.05
= 5.2
1
= 104
1 1
<
∵ 132 104
∴ Benson’s measurement is more accurate.

(b) Let v cm3 be the actual volume of each

calcium block.
From Benson’s measurement,
65.5  20v < 66.5
∴ 3.275  v < 3.325………(1)
From the formula used by Dora,
the actual weight of a block is 1.6v g.
From Dora’s measurement,
5.15  1.6v < 5.25
∴ 3.218 75  v < 3.281 25………(2)
From (1) and (2),
3.275  v < 3.281 25.
i.e. v = 3.28, cor. to the nearest 0.01
∴ The claim is agreed and his estimated
value is 3.28 cm3.

© Oxford University Press 2021 Challenging Worksheet 1 Solution sol-2