Chapter 3, Problem 56A

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation : The accuracy and precision of each student’s measurements are to be described.

Concept Introduction : Correct and reproducibility are the two features of measurement.

The concepts of accuracy and precision are related to correctness and reproducibility respectively.

Answer to Problem 56A

The measurements of Colin have no accuracy and precision.

The measurements of Lamont have both accuracy and precision.

The measurements of Kivrin have no accuracy but precision.

Explanation of Solution

Accuracy refers to how closely the value being measured matches the actual or true value in a measurement.

Precision is a measurement of how well two measurements match one another, regardless of the actual value.

Accuracy is evaluated by comparing the correct value with the measured value in a measurement.

Precision is evaluated by comparing the two or more repeated values in a measurement.

In comparing the weighing values from 1 to 4 of Colin, there is no accuracy and no precision in his measurement. None of the values is near to the correct mass and the four values are not close to each other.

In comparing the weighing value from 1 to 4 of Lamont, there are both accuracy and precision in his measurement. The weighing 2 value is nearer to the correct mass and the four values measured by Lamont are close to each other.

In comparing the weighing value from 1 to 4 of Kivrin, there is no accuracy but precision in his measurement. None of the values is nearer to the correct mass and the four values measured by Kivrin are close to each other.