If the length and breadth of a thin rectangular sheet are measured, using a metre scale as 16.2 cm and 10.1 cm respectively. What is the area of the rectangular sheet.

If the length and breadth of a thin rectangular sheet are measured, us

1.	If the length and breadth of a thin rectangular sheet are measured, using a metre scale as 16.2 cm and 10.1 cm respectively. What is the area of the rectangular sheet.
Answer» SOLUTION :There are THREE significant figures in each measurement. It means that the length l may be WRITTEN as `l= 16.2 +- 0.1cm= 16.2 cm +- 0.6%` Similarly, the BREADTH b may be written as `b= 10.2 +- 0.1cm= 10.1 cm +- 1%` Then, the error of the PRODUCT of two (or more) experimental values, using the combination of errors rule, will be `lb= 163.62 cm^(2) +- 1.6% - 163.62 +- 2.6cm^(2)` This leads use to quote the final result as `lb= 164 +- 3 cm^(2)` Here `3cm^(2)` is the uncertainty or error in the estimation of area of rectangular sheet.