To determine the volume of a cube, a student measured one of the dimensions of the cube several times. If the true dimension of the cube is \(10.62 \mathrm{~cm}\), give an example of four sets of measurements that would illustrate the following. a. imprecise and inaccurate data b. precise but inaccurate data c. precise and accurate data Give a possible explanation as to why data can be imprecise or inaccurate. What is wrong with saying a set of measurements is imprecise but accurate?

Short Answer

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Set 1: Imprecise and Inaccurate Data - Example measurements: {10.1, 10.8, 11.6, 9.7} cm Set 2: Precise but Inaccurate Data - Example measurements: {11.2, 11.3, 11.1, 11.4} cm Set 3: Precise and Accurate Data - Example measurements: {10.6, 10.7, 10.5, 10.6} cm Possible explanations for imprecise or inaccurate data include faulty or low-quality measuring tools, human error, external factors, or natural fluctuations in the measured property. It's difficult to have a set of measurements that are imprecise but accurate, as having a higher precision means the measurements are closer to each other, and being accurate means they are close to the true value. If the data points are not close to each other (imprecise), it would be improbable to have them be close to the true value on average (accurate).

Step by step solution

01

Set 1: Imprecise and Inaccurate Data

To create a set of imprecise and inaccurate measurements, we will choose numbers that are neither close to the true value (inaccurate) nor close to each other (imprecise). For example, we can choose the measurements {10.1, 10.8, 11.6, 9.7} cm. 2. Precise but inaccurate data
02

Set 2: Precise but Inaccurate Data

To create a set of precise but inaccurate measurements, we will choose numbers that are close to each other (precise), but not close to the true value (inaccurate). For example, we can choose the measurements {11.2, 11.3, 11.1, 11.4} cm. 3. Precise and accurate data
03

Set 3: Precise and Accurate Data

To create a set of precise and accurate measurements, we will choose numbers that are both close to the true value (accurate) and close to each other (precise). For example, we can choose the measurements {10.6, 10.7, 10.5, 10.6} cm. Possible explanation for imprecise or inaccurate data:
04

Possible Explanation

There can be many factors affecting the precision and accuracy of measurements. Some possible explanations include: 1. Faulty or low-quality measuring tools 2. Human error in taking measurements or recording data 3. External factors such as temperature, humidity, or air pressure 4. Natural fluctuations in the measured property Imprecise but accurate data
05

Imprecise but Accurate?

It's difficult to have a set of measurements that are imprecise but accurate. This is because, by definition, having a higher precision would mean the measurements are closer to each other, and being accurate means the measurements are close to the true value. If the data points are not close to each other (imprecise), it would be improbable to have them be close to the true value on average (accurate). Thus, it is unlikely to have imprecise but accurate measurements.

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