A CLOSER LOOK AT THE TREATMENT OF APPROXIMATE NUMBERS IN TECHNICAL MATHEMATICS: DO THE RULES REALLY WORK?

We find that the current treatment in technical mathematics texts of approximate numbers (obtained by rounding), and their accuracy and precision, lacks insight and can be misleading. Rules on arithmetic of approximate numbers are only rules of thumb. Used without perspective, they can produce surpr...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inPRIMUS : problems, resources, and issues in mathematics undergraduate studies Vol. 8; no. 3; pp. 209 - 218
Main Authors Zhou, Ying, Gall, Walter
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Taylor & Francis Group 01.01.1998
Subjects
Approximate numbers
interval analysis
significant figures
technical mathematics
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ISSN1051-1970
1935-4053
DOI10.1080/10511979808965898

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Summary:We find that the current treatment in technical mathematics texts of approximate numbers (obtained by rounding), and their accuracy and precision, lacks insight and can be misleading. Rules on arithmetic of approximate numbers are only rules of thumb. Used without perspective, they can produce surprisingly inaccurate answers and cause confusion. However, elementary interval analysis can exactly determine the interval of possible error. Simple examples of interval analysis can be used in the classroom for a better understanding of the subject.
ISSN:1051-1970
1935-4053
DOI:10.1080/10511979808965898