A student measures the length of a rod 5 times as 10.1 cm, 10.3 cm, 10.2 cm, 10.4 cm, and 10.0 cm. The average reading and the mean absolute error are:

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Appears in NEET UG
Solution ✔ Verified
  • A(10.2 ± 0.1) cm
  • B(10.2 ± 0.12) cm
  • C(10.2 ± 0.08) cm
  • D(10.2 ± 0.2) cm
Explanation

Mean length (a_mean) = (10.1 + 10.3 + 10.2 + 10.4 + 10.0) / 5 = 51.0 / 5 = 10.2 cm. Absolute errors: |10.1 - 10.2| = 0.1, |10.3 - 10.2| = 0.1, |10.2 - 10.2| = 0.0, |10.4 - 10.2| = 0.2, |10.0 - 10.2| = 0.2. Sum of absolute errors = 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.0 + 0.2 + 0.2 = 0.6 cm. Mean absolute error = 0.6 / 5 = 0.12 cm. Rounding the mean absolute error to one decimal place (consistent with readings' precision) gives 0.1 cm. So the result is (10.2 ± 0.1) cm.

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