Quote:
Originally Posted by Ether
The whole concept using "significant figures" this way, although still taught in high schools, is deeply flawed.
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To use the phrase "deeply flawed" suggests that you have difficulty with the meanings of the ideas behind precision and accuracy.
Suggesting that because it is "still taught in high schools" and thus maybe has little relevance, is possibly offensive.
Just try a small exercise:
Imagine that the motor may rotate 3701 revolutions in a single minute. Not an unreasonable possibility. Or even that the 60 oz-in is actually 60.01 oz-in. Recalculate your answers.
Every digit that you include beyond four becomes irrelevant, it is just calculator detritus.
IMHO, sometimes people use excessive digits in their calculations of answers like curse words, to emphasize their supposed superiority where it is not necessary.
The precision of the measurement determines the accuracy of the result.