You are trying to determine the area of the floor of a rectangular closet since you will be replacing the carpet. You measure the length to be (5.0±0.1) m and the width to be (3.8±0.1) m. What is the maximum possible area based on the measurements and associated errors? What is the minimum possible area based on the measurements and associated errors?

length L = 5±.1

percentage error

= 0.1/5 x 100 = 2%

breadth b = 3.8 ±.1

percentage error

=.1 / 3.8 x 100

= 2.6 %

Maximum reading of length = 5.1 m

maximum reading of breadth = 3.9m

maximum area possible = 5.1 x 3.9

= 19.9 m².

maximum possible error in the measurement of area in percentage terms

= 2+2.6 = 4.6 %

error in maximum area

19.9 x 4.6 / 100

=.9 m²

Minimum possible measurement of area

4.9 x 3.7 = 18.1 m²

possible error

18.1 x 4.6 / 100

=.8 m²