Accuracy &

Precision
in Measurement

Allen Joshua R. Dominguez, LPT, RN, CNN, MAN

SHS Teacher III
Regional Science High School for Region 1
 Learning Competency

• Differentiate between pre

cision and accuracy STE
M_GC11MT-Ib-13
 ACCURACY PRECISION
• The degree to whi • It refers to the
ch the result of a closeness of tw
measurement, cal
culation, or specifi o or more mea
cation conforms or surements to e
close to the correc ach other.
t value or a standa
rd.
 Accuracy & Precision
• Accuracy & Precision may be
demonstrated by shooting at a target.
• Accuracy is represented by hitting
the bulls eye (the accepted value)
• Precision is represented by a tight
grouping of shots (they are finely
tuned)
Accurate & Precise Accurate but not Precise

Precise but not Not Precise &

Accurate Not Accurate
SIGNIFICANT FIGURES
RULE # 1
 All non-zero digits are significant.
• 167337
• 241528
• 36723928
• Please give other examples.
RULE # 2
 All zeros in between non-zero
digits are significant.
• 109
• 10093
• Please give other examples.
RULE # 3
 Zeros before the first non-zero
digits are NON-SIGNIFICANT. Th
ese are called leading zeros
• 0.0000012
• 0.0509
• 0.20002
RULE # 4
 If there is a decimal point in th
e number, all the trailing zeros a
re significant.
• 342.20
• 46.0
• 80.0
RULE # 5
 If there is NO decimal point in the num
ber, the trailing zeros are NOT SIGNIFIC
ANT.
• 50
• 100
• 420
• 8100
RULE # 6
 Exact numbers have an infinite
number of significant figures.
• There are 100 years in a century.
• 2 molecules of hydrogen react with
1 molecule of oxygen to form 2 mo
lecules of water.
MULTIPLICATION OR DIVISION

 Answers should be rounded

off to the same number of SI
GNIFICANT FIGURES as that
of the original value with LEAS
T number of significant figur
es.
 3.4 2 SF
x 8.32 3 SF
28 ----- ROUND OF TO 2 SF

5.991 4 SF
/ 0.77 2 SF
7. 8 ----- ROUND OFF TO 2 SF
ADDITION AND SUBTRACTION

 Answer should be rounded o

ff to the same number of DECI
MAL PLACES as that of the or
iginal value with the LEAST N
UMBER OF DECIMAL PLACE
S.
30.78 2 decimal places
- 6.942 3 decimal places
23.84 ---- Round off to TWO decimal places

93.451 3 decimal places

+ 6.942 3 decimal place
100.393 Round off to THREE decimal places
EXAMPLE #1:
 Edward measured three marbles u
sing three different weighing instru
ments. If the three marbles weigh
3.77g, 5.2g, 4.999g, what is the tot
al weight of the three marbles?
SOLUTION

3.77 grams
5.2 grams
+ 4.99 grams
14.0 grams
EXAMPLE # 2
 The label of a 120 grams can
dy bar says that it can provide
435 calories. How many calori
es per gram does the candy p
rovide?
SOLUTION

435 cal
/ 120 grams
3.63 cal /gram
EXERCISES
Sample Problem # 1

 Find the volume of a cylinde

r with a height of 659.75 cm a
nd a radius of 20.015 cm. Exp
ress your answers in liters.
SOLUTION

V= π rh
2
= 3.14 (20.015) 2 (659.75)
= 3.14 (400.60) (659.75)

= 829, 888.969 cm 3
829, 888.969 mL x 1 L
1000 mL

= 830 L
Sample Problem # 2

 What is the area of the

triangle?
Given: Height = 10.21 cm
Base = 6.01 cm
SOLUTION
Area = ½ base x height
= ½ (6.01 cm) (10.21 cm)
= 30.7 cm 2
DENSITY MEASUR
EMENT
 Learning Competency

• Determine the density of liq

uids & solids
STEM_GC11MT-Ib-14
Density Triangle
SAMPLE PROBLEM #1

 Gasoline is a non-polar liquid that

will float on water. 450.00 gram
s of gasoline is spilled into a puddl
e of water. If the density of gasol
ine is 0.665 g/mL, what volume o
f gasoline is spilled?
SOLUTION

Volume = Mass / Density

= 450.00 g / 0.665 g/ mL

= 677 mL
 Sample Problem # 2
A cup of gold colored metal beads was meas
ured to have a mass 425.0 grams. By water d
isplacement, the volume of the beads was cal
culated to be 48.0 cm3. Given the following
densities, identify the metal.
Gold: 19.3 g/mL
Copper: 8.85 g/mL
Bronze: 9.87 g/mL
 Sample Problem # 2
A cup of gold colored metal beads was meas
ured to have a mass 425.0 grams. By water d
isplacement, the volume of the beads was cal
culated to be 48.0 cm3. Given the following
densities, identify the metal.
Gold: 19.3 g/mL
Copper: 8.85 g/mL
Bronze: 9.87 g/mL
Sample Problem # 3

 An ice cube measuring 5.80 cm b

y 5.80 cm by 5.80 cm has a densit
y of 0.917 g/mL. What is the mass
?
SOLUTION:

Mass= DV
= (0.917g/cm3) X
(195.112 cm3)
= 179 grams