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Quoting uncertainty?
Are these two 'statements' equivalent:
1) k = 0.16160 ± 0.00003
2) k = 0.16160(3)
?
2 Answers
- oldprofLv 76 years agoFavorite Answer
By convention:
1) k = 0.16160 ± 0.00003 means a range of probable values between and equal to 0.16160 - 0.00003 = .16157 and 0.16160 = 0.00003 = .16163
2) k = 0.16160(3) means the significant value is .16160 (5 digits) with the sixth as possibly 3 but that's too uncertain to use. We see this notation often when the value is experimentally derived but the precision of the measuring device is insufficient to guarantee that last digit.
- ?Lv 76 years ago
No they are not. #1 states a value and it's allowed tolerance. #2 states a number to be multiplied by three.