SOLUTION: A student measures the length and width of a rectangle to be 59.5 cm and 0.531 cm, respectively. Wanting to find the area (in cm2) of this rectangle, the student multiplies on a ca

Algebra ->  Volume -> SOLUTION: A student measures the length and width of a rectangle to be 59.5 cm and 0.531 cm, respectively. Wanting to find the area (in cm2) of this rectangle, the student multiplies on a ca      Log On


   

Question 1196395: A student measures the length and width of a rectangle to be 59.5 cm and 0.531 cm, respectively. Wanting to find the area (in cm2) of this rectangle, the student multiplies on a calculator and obtains a result of 31.5945. The area should be reported as ___.
Found 2 solutions by josgarithmetic, ikleyn:
Answer by josgarithmetic(39630) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
We are reading three significant figures in each measurement.
59.5%2A0.531=31.5945

Reported should be 31.6 square cm

Answer by ikleyn(52906) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
.

Special instruction to the problem must be included/attached, specifying precision of the measurements,
to determine on how to make rounding.

Without such instruction, this "problem" makes no sense and teaches wrong conception.