Q. 2.83 - An Introduction to General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry

Question

Indicate if each of the following is answered with an exact number or a measured number: (2.2)

a. number of legs

b. height of table

c. number of chairs at thetable

d. area of tabletop

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

The number of legs, the height of the table, number of chairs at the table and the area of the table top are determined with an exact number or a measured number.

Step 1 : Introduction (part a)

The given is the picture of a table to be measured

The objective is to indicate the table has certain features with an exact number or a measured number 

Step 2 : Explanation (part a)

(a) The number of legs is exact since the number of legs is known and there are only a few significant figures.

Step 3 : Introduction (part b)

The objective is to indicate the table has certain features with an exact number or a measured number

Step 4 : Explanation (part b)

(b) The height of the table is measured since height measurements are always subject to error.

Step 5: Introduction (part c)

The objective is to indicate the table has certain features with an exact number or a measured number 

Step 6 : Explanation (part c)

(c) The number of seats at the table is an exact amount since chair numbers are fixed and impossible to estimate.

Step 7 : Introduction (part d)

The objective is to indicate the table has certain features with an exact number or a measured number 

Step 8 : Explanation (part d)

(d) The area of the table top is measured as a number because the amount is constantly undetermined.