1988 AHSME Problems/Problem 10

Problem

In an experiment, a scientific constant $C$ is determined to be $2.43865$ with an error of at most $\pm 0.00312$. The experimenter wishes to announce a value for $C$ in which every digit is significant. That is, whatever $C$ is, the announced value must be the correct result when $C$ is rounded to that number of digits. The most accurate value the experimenter can announce for $C$ is

$\textbf{(A)}\ 2\qquad \textbf{(B)}\ 2.4\qquad \textbf{(C)}\ 2.43\qquad \textbf{(D)}\ 2.44\qquad \textbf{(E)}\ 2.439$

Solution

If added together, we have: \[2.43865+0.00312=2.44177\] This rounds to $2.44$. If they subtracted, we have: \[2.43865-0.00312=2.43553.\] This rounds to $2.44$. Therefore, we have the answer to be $\fbox{\textbf{(D)} 2.44}$.

See also

1988 AHSME (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 9
Followed by
Problem 11
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