Limits of accuracy
If a number or measurement has been rounded, it can be important to consider what possible values the exact value could have been. For example, if a kitchen unit is 600 mm wide to the nearest 10 mm, it could actually be any width from 595 mm up to 605 mm – so it might not fit into a gap that is exactly 600 mm wide. To describe all the possible values that a rounded number could be, we use limits of accuracy.
The lower limit is the smallest value that would round up to the estimated value.
The upper limit is the smallest value that would round up to the next estimated value.
For example, a mass of 70 kg, rounded to the nearest 10 kg, has a lower limit of 65 kg. (because 65 kg is the smallest mass that rounds to 70kg to the nearest 10 kg.) The upper limit is 75 kg, because 75 kg is the smallest mass that would round up to 80kg.
This can be shown as an error interval – which is the difference between the highest value and the lowest value (using inequality symbols):
\(65~\text{kg} \leq \text{weight} \textless 75~\text{kg}\).
Examples
Work out the smallest possible measurements and biggest possible measurements for the following examples:
32 cm, measured to the nearest cm:
The degree of accuracy is to the nearest 1 cm.
\(1~\text{cm} \div 2 = 0.5~\text{cm}\)
Upper limit = \(32 + 0.5 = 32.5~\text{cm}\)
Lower limit = \(32 - 0.5 = 31.5~\text{cm}\)
140 cm, measured to the nearest 10 cm:
The degree of accuracy is nearest 10 cm.
\(10~\text{cm} \div 2 = 5~\text{cm}\)
Upper limit = \(140 + 5 = 145~\text{cm}\)
Lower limit = \(140 - 5 = 135~\text{cm}\)
8.4 cm, measured to the nearest 0.1 cm:
The degree of accuracy is nearest 0.1 cm.
\(0.1~\text{cm} \div 2 = 0.05~\text{cm}\)
Upper limit = \(8.4 + 0.05 = 8.45~\text{cm}\)
Lower limit = \(8.4 - 0.05 = 8.35~\text{cm}\)
Question
What is the smallest value and the largest possible value of 62 kg, measured to the nearest kg?
The degree of accuracy is to the nearest 1 kg.
\(1~\text{kg} \div 2 = 0.5~\text{kg}\)
Upper limit = \(62 + 0.5 = 62.5~\text{kg}\)
Lower limit = \(62 - 0.5 = 61.5~\text{kg}\)
Question
What is the upper limit and lower limit of 390 grams, measured to the nearest 10 grams?
The degree of accuracy is nearest 10 g.
\(10~\text{g} \div 2 = 5~\text{g}\)
Upper limit = \(390 + 5 = 395~\text{g}\)
Lower limit = \(390 - 5 = 385~\text{g}\)
Question
What is the upper limit and lower limit of 15.89 seconds (s), measured to the nearest 0.01 s?
The degree of accuracy is nearest 0.01 s.
\(0.01~\text{s} \div 2 = 0.005~\text{s}\)
Upper limit = \(15.89 + 0.005 = 15.895~\text{s}\)
Lower limit = \(15.89 - 0.005 = 15.885~\text{s}\)