Section 6.1: Precision, Accuracy, and Estimation
Homework Hints

Problems 1-6, 13-14
There are many problems throughout the text labeled IN YOUR OWN WORDS. Just relax. Do not be afraid to give your opinion. For the most part, these questions do not have "right" or "wrong" answers. You should spend about five minutes in answering each of these questions. "For Problem 1 you might want to check the first link listed below.

Problems 7-12
For this chapter, you will need to know the abbreviations for the various units of length. You should try to remember these.

Problems 15-29
These are estimation problems. Do not answer these questions by direct measurement. The point with these problems is to develop your intuition with the standard units of length.

Problems 30-41
You should learn the metric prefixes: kilo (times 1,000); hecto (times 100); deka (times 10) deci (times 1/10); centi (times 1/100); milli (times 1/1,000) The important idea of this section is to help you to THINK in metric. Do not attempt to convert from the metric system to the U.S. measurement system. Don't be tempted to use a ruler to be "right" but rather make an attempt to estimate these lengths.

Problems 42-53
See Examples 1-3.

Problems 54 Here you must think in another unfamiliar unit of measurement. It is important to practice THINKING in different measurement systems.

Problem 55
Even if this problem is not assigned, it is a worthwhile problem because it can give you some reference points for linear measurements. The importance of the problem is not what you write on paper, but what you remember. If you don't remember your measurements, then you will not have an easy reference system for THINKING METRIC!

Note: Homework Hints are given only for the levels 1 and 2 problems. You can also check some sources for homework help on the Internet (see Links, below), or you can call the author at (707) 829-0606 or send an e-mail to: smithkjs@mathnature.com