Topic: Can someone explain this math rule?
Triptych !!DP4/G/5A6 started this discussion 15 years ago #4,482
"3. If the first nonsignificant digit is 5 and is followed by zeros, drop the 5 and:
a. increase the last significant digit by one if it is odd; or
b. leave the last significant digit the same if it is even. Thus, 47.250 is equal to 47.2 to three significant digits, and 47.350 is equal to 47.4."
Why does it make a difference if the last significant digit is odd or even?
a. increase the last significant digit by one if it is odd; or
b. leave the last significant digit the same if it is even. Thus, 47.250 is equal to 47.2 to three significant digits, and 47.350 is equal to 47.4."
Why does it make a difference if the last significant digit is odd or even?
Anonymous B joined in and replied with this 15 years ago, 2 minutes later[^] [v] #79,918
If you round up each time your estimate is too high on average. If you round down each time your estimate is too low on average.
If you do each 50% of the time, your estimate is closer, on average.
In short: It doesn't make a difference unless you are dealing with a large amount of numbers. It's more of a convention in most cases.
If you do each 50% of the time, your estimate is closer, on average.
In short: It doesn't make a difference unless you are dealing with a large amount of numbers. It's more of a convention in most cases.
Triptych !!DP4/G/5A6 (OP) replied with this 15 years ago, 2 minutes later, 5 minutes after the original post[^] [v] #79,920
Anonymous C joined in and replied with this 15 years ago, 1 minute later, 6 minutes after the original post[^] [v] #79,922
Anonymous B replied with this 15 years ago, 23 seconds later, 6 minutes after the original post[^] [v] #79,923
RedFox !FANATICibM joined in and replied with this 15 years ago, 54 seconds later, 7 minutes after the original post[^] [v] #79,925
I've never seen that rule ever.
Triptych !!DP4/G/5A6 (OP) replied with this 15 years ago, 21 seconds later, 8 minutes after the original post[^] [v] #79,926
@79,922 (C)
Lol. I just wanted an answer so I could keep going through this textbook. I don't care where it comes from. :)
@79,923 (B)
<3
Lol. I just wanted an answer so I could keep going through this textbook. I don't care where it comes from. :)
@79,923 (B)
<3
Anonymous B replied with this 15 years ago, 25 seconds later, 8 minutes after the original post[^] [v] #79,928
@79,922 (C)
Saving up to be a wiseguy, trip? You seem to have >50 posts since you weren't premodded lol
Saving up to be a wiseguy, trip? You seem to have >50 posts since you weren't premodded lol
Triptych !!DP4/G/5A6 (OP) replied with this 15 years ago, 4 minutes later, 12 minutes after the original post[^] [v] #79,932
@previous (B)
Not really. Posting there a lot less, lately.
Sometimes there's interesting topics there. And people are a lot more blunt.
Not really. Posting there a lot less, lately.
Sometimes there's interesting topics there. And people are a lot more blunt.
Triptych !!DP4/G/5A6 (OP) double-posted this 15 years ago, 11 minutes later, 23 minutes after the original post[^] [v] #79,938
Broseph !!fxnDb+Ve4 joined in and replied with this 15 years ago, 5 minutes later, 29 minutes after the original post[^] [v] #79,940
@previous (Triptych !!DP4/G/5A6)
I agree, probably not. Not once in college did I ever see a professor do or teach this, and I took all sorts of engineering level calc, chem, phys, etc. Then again, how often is there are one more digit than there are significant digits and how often is that number a 5? I was always taught to just round up.
I agree, probably not. Not once in college did I ever see a professor do or teach this, and I took all sorts of engineering level calc, chem, phys, etc. Then again, how often is there are one more digit than there are significant digits and how often is that number a 5? I was always taught to just round up.
Triptych !!DP4/G/5A6 (OP) replied with this 15 years ago, 5 minutes later, 34 minutes after the original post[^] [v] #79,941
@previous (Broseph !!fxnDb+Ve4)
True.
It's just interesting. I wonder if it was ever used widely, and where/when.
The textbook so far seems to be well-written, and pretty informative. It's odd that it has this in it...
Chem and physics both seem really interesting, so far. Did you enjoy them?
True.
It's just interesting. I wonder if it was ever used widely, and where/when.
The textbook so far seems to be well-written, and pretty informative. It's odd that it has this in it...
Chem and physics both seem really interesting, so far. Did you enjoy them?
Broseph !!fxnDb+Ve4 replied with this 15 years ago, 14 minutes later, 49 minutes after the original post[^] [v] #79,947
@previous (Triptych !!DP4/G/5A6)
Chem, no. Physics, yes, until we started getting into electricty, magnetism, statics, and all that shit. I think the reason it's not widely used is because if you do have some sort of application where rounding up a 5 would cause you to over-estimate something to the point that something could go wrong, it's probably best to take more accurate and precise measurements to increase your number of significant digits, rather than use a silly even/odd rule and hope that it balances out. Plus, if it's exactly 1/2 of your smallest possible measurement, it's probably best to just bend rules and leave the 5 as a significant digit anyway.
Chem, no. Physics, yes, until we started getting into electricty, magnetism, statics, and all that shit. I think the reason it's not widely used is because if you do have some sort of application where rounding up a 5 would cause you to over-estimate something to the point that something could go wrong, it's probably best to take more accurate and precise measurements to increase your number of significant digits, rather than use a silly even/odd rule and hope that it balances out. Plus, if it's exactly 1/2 of your smallest possible measurement, it's probably best to just bend rules and leave the 5 as a significant digit anyway.
Triptych !!DP4/G/5A6 (OP) replied with this 15 years ago, 2 minutes later, 52 minutes after the original post[^] [v] #79,948
@previous (Broseph !!fxnDb+Ve4)
What are you interested in, then?
True. It is pretty nonsensical. I wonder who came up with it.
What are you interested in, then?
True. It is pretty nonsensical. I wonder who came up with it.
Broseph !!fxnDb+Ve4 replied with this 15 years ago, 8 minutes later, 1 hour after the original post[^] [v] #79,950
@previous (Triptych !!DP4/G/5A6)
I started off in engineering and I do have a strong math/science background, as well as a good business and economics background, but I ended up more interested in social sciences and got a bachelor's in anthropology. I'm thinking about transferring all my credits to a community college to pick up an associates in electrical engineering as well as an associates in computer engineering and possibly an associates in some sort of business or econ field. Then if I still wanted to, I could transfer those credits back to my first college and complete some other degrees. If the job market doesn't pick up I'm just gonna have to keep on improving my education until I can get a well-paying job.
I started off in engineering and I do have a strong math/science background, as well as a good business and economics background, but I ended up more interested in social sciences and got a bachelor's in anthropology. I'm thinking about transferring all my credits to a community college to pick up an associates in electrical engineering as well as an associates in computer engineering and possibly an associates in some sort of business or econ field. Then if I still wanted to, I could transfer those credits back to my first college and complete some other degrees. If the job market doesn't pick up I'm just gonna have to keep on improving my education until I can get a well-paying job.
Triptych !!DP4/G/5A6 (OP) replied with this 15 years ago, 3 minutes later, 1 hour after the original post[^] [v] #79,953
@previous (Broseph !!fxnDb+Ve4)
That's a little confusing, but interesting.
What sort of job are you looking for?
That's a little confusing, but interesting.
What sort of job are you looking for?
Broseph !!fxnDb+Ve4 replied with this 15 years ago, 4 minutes later, 1 hour after the original post[^] [v] #79,955
@previous (Triptych !!DP4/G/5A6)
Don't know yet. As an anthropologist, I see myself as a social scientist with a specialty in human culture and also human evolution to some extent, so I consider myself just as qualified as someone with a sociology degree or other social scientist. Unfortunately, most employers don't even know what anthropology is, so they don't see it that way, and anytime I try to explain what anthropology is and why I'm just as qualified as any other social scientist, they seem to throw it off as bullshit. That's why I feel the need to back up the anth degree with other stuff.
Don't know yet. As an anthropologist, I see myself as a social scientist with a specialty in human culture and also human evolution to some extent, so I consider myself just as qualified as someone with a sociology degree or other social scientist. Unfortunately, most employers don't even know what anthropology is, so they don't see it that way, and anytime I try to explain what anthropology is and why I'm just as qualified as any other social scientist, they seem to throw it off as bullshit. That's why I feel the need to back up the anth degree with other stuff.
(Edited 42 seconds later.)
Triptych !!DP4/G/5A6 (OP) replied with this 15 years ago, 4 minutes later, 1 hour after the original post[^] [v] #79,959
@previous (Broseph !!fxnDb+Ve4)
Really? That's odd. They should at least consider it, and do a little research before throwing it off.
Good luck, broski! And good night.
Really? That's odd. They should at least consider it, and do a little research before throwing it off.
Good luck, broski! And good night.
Broseph !!fxnDb+Ve4 replied with this 15 years ago, 8 minutes later, 1 hour after the original post[^] [v] #79,962
Falco !PZmcClOUDk joined in and replied with this 15 years ago, 1 hour later, 2 hours after the original post[^] [v] #79,991
math SUCKS.
Triptych !!DP4/G/5A6 (OP) replied with this 15 years ago, 12 hours later, 14 hours after the original post[^] [v] #80,166
protip !!pMmAiEwOm joined in and replied with this 15 years ago, 57 minutes later, 15 hours after the original post[^] [v] #80,223
Bankers’ rounding, right?
The Owl !KThEOwLwbU joined in and replied with this 15 years ago, 5 hours later, 21 hours after the original post[^] [v] #80,397
I always got taught to round up if it's 5 or over, and round down if it's not.
Anonymous I joined in and replied with this 15 years ago, 33 minutes later, 21 hours after the original post[^] [v] #80,445
Nuggets don't know bout my SIG figs
About the math rule, in general if you're at an odd number it means that an even number could have been in its place for easier math. It also makes fewer mistakes. But sig figs are useless to pay attention to unless you plan on studying physics/Chem. My Chen professor cares about SIG figs, my physics professor doesn't give a shit
About the math rule, in general if you're at an odd number it means that an even number could have been in its place for easier math. It also makes fewer mistakes. But sig figs are useless to pay attention to unless you plan on studying physics/Chem. My Chen professor cares about SIG figs, my physics professor doesn't give a shit
(Edited 4 minutes later.)
Triptych !!DP4/G/5A6 (OP) replied with this 15 years ago, 1 hour later, 22 hours after the original post[^] [v] #80,469
Anonymous I replied with this 15 years ago, 1 hour later, 23 hours after the original post[^] [v] #80,499
Why?
The Editor !FuckWtfW8M joined in and replied with this 15 years ago, 2 minutes later, 23 hours after the original post[^] [v] #80,500
sim is azn joined in and replied with this 15 years ago, 1 hour later, 1 day after the original post[^] [v] #80,558
triptych. i love you.
Triptych !!DP4/G/5A6 (OP) replied with this 15 years ago, 41 minutes later, 1 day after the original post[^] [v] #80,631
@80,499 (I)
It's interesting. And physics is something I have to respect. Because you can't choose to disobey the laws of physics,
@previous (sim is azn)
<3 ily bro
It's interesting. And physics is something I have to respect. Because you can't choose to disobey the laws of physics,
@previous (sim is azn)
<3 ily bro
sim is azn replied with this 15 years ago, 51 seconds later, 1 day after the original post[^] [v] #80,635
Triptych !!DP4/G/5A6 (OP) replied with this 15 years ago, 54 seconds later, 1 day after the original post[^] [v] #80,638
Anonymous I replied with this 15 years ago, 8 hours later, 1 day after the original post[^] [v] #80,752
@80,631 (Triptych !!DP4/G/5A6)
I'm taking physics as a major.... It is NOT as interesting as high school physics. I'm switching my major.
I'm taking physics as a major.... It is NOT as interesting as high school physics. I'm switching my major.