👔 Chemistry by Chang – Problem 1.26 | Precision and Accuracy | Steemit Science
Hello Steemit learners! 👋📏
Here’s another conceptual problem from Raymond Chang’s Chemistry (14th Edition), in Chapter 1: Measurement and the Properties of Matter. This time, the focus is on analyzing precision and accuracy in measurements — an essential skill for both laboratory science and everyday tasks.
🔹 Problem 1.26:
Three apprentice tailors (X, Y, and Z) are assigned the task of measuring the seam of a pair of trousers. Each one makes three measurements. The results in inches are:
- X: (31.5, 31.6, 31.4)
- Y: (32.8, 32.3, 32.7)
- Z: (31.9, 32.2, 32.1)
The true length is 32.0 in.
👉 Comment on the precision and the accuracy of each tailor’s measurements.
This problem highlights the key difference between:
- Precision 🧮: how close the repeated measurements are to each other.
- Accuracy 🎯: how close the measurements are to the true value.
Both qualities are important, but in practice, precision without accuracy (or vice versa) can lead to misleading results.
📸 Here’s my detailed commentary on each tailor’s results:
Which do you think is more important in this case: a tailor being precise, or being accurate? Let’s discuss it below! 💬
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