use the rounded or exact answer? (1 Viewer)

[indeed]

Hi guys,
For mulitple part Qs (e.g. part a, b, c) requiring the previous parts' results, should I use the exact answer I got for the previous part or the rounded (sig figs) answer from the previous part?

(I'm not sure how they want it in HSC)

 

[Life'sHard]

I always used exact answers by storing it. I don’t think it matters though. As long as you show working with the figures (rounded or not).

 

[cossine]

Hi guys,
For mulitple part Qs (e.g. part a, b, c) requiring the previous parts' results, should I use the exact answer I got for the previous part or the rounded (sig figs) answer from the previous part?

(I'm not sure how they want it in HSC)

I think it will be best to look at the NESA website for solutions to past papers and see how the working is laid out.

 

[Eagle Mum]

I’m not a teacher or HSC marker, but at postgrad level, rounding to correct sig fig is for reporting outputs/results. For ongoing calculations, I would expect every step to be as accurate as possible to minimise the error of the final result.

 

[Bob99]

Hi guys,
For mulitple part Qs (e.g. part a, b, c) requiring the previous parts' results, should I use the exact answer I got for the previous part or the rounded (sig figs) answer from the previous part?

(I'm not sure how they want it in HSC)

I used the rounded number for my exams.

 

[wizzkids]

Always leave the rounding to the final result.
Never round the intermediate results, or else you are introducing rounding errors half-way through the calculation.
If you are answering a multi-part question, then the intermediate results can be reported after rounding, but when you carry on and do the final parts(s) of the question, do not use the rounded intermediate results.

 

[indeed]

Always leave the rounding to the final result.
Never round the intermediate results, or else you are introducing rounding errors half-way through the calculation.

What about for multiple part Qs (where you rounded your answer in part A, and need to reuse it in part B, would you use the exact or rounded answer?)

 

[carrotsss]

What about for multiple part Qs (where you rounded your answer in part A, and need to reuse it in part B, would you use the exact or rounded answer?)

Keep the exact in your calculator and use it, but it isn’t the end of the world if you dont

 

[indeed]

Keep the exact in your calculator and use it, but it isn’t the end of the world if you dont

Oh ok, thanks (just wanted to ensure wont get penalised for either method)