Calculating Percent Error: Real-Life Measurement Mistakes

A student measures the length of a pencil to be 15 cm, but the actual length is 16 cm. What is the percent error in the student's measurement?

• 5%

• 6.25%

• 10%

• 12.5%

A factory produces 200 toys, but 10 of them are found to be defective. What is the percent error in the production quality?

• 5%

• 2%

• 8%

• 12%

A recipe calls for 2 cups of sugar, but a chef accidentally uses 2.5 cups. What is the percent error in the amount of sugar used?

• 25%

• 15%

• 30%

• 20%

A scientist measures the temperature of a solution to be 75 degrees Celsius, but the actual temperature is 80 degrees Celsius. Calculate the percent error in the measurement.

• 6.25%

• 7.50%

• 10.00%

• 5.00%

A car's fuel efficiency is advertised as 30 miles per gallon, but a test shows it only achieves 28 miles per gallon. What is the percent error in the fuel efficiency?

• 5%

• 10%

• 8%

• 6.67%

A student estimates the height of a plant to be 50 cm, but it actually measures 55 cm. What is the percent error in the student's estimate?

• 9.09%

• 15.00%

• 5.45%

• 12.50%

A basketball player scores 18 points in a game, but the coach expected him to score 20 points. What is the percent error in the player's performance?

• 10%

• 25%

• 5%

• 15%

A thermometer reads 95 degrees Fahrenheit, but the actual temperature is 100 degrees Fahrenheit. What is the percent error in the thermometer reading?

• 10%

• 0%

• 5%

• 15%

A teacher grades a test and finds that 5 out of 30 students failed. What is the percent error in the failure rate?

• 25%

• 10%

• 50%

• 66.67%

A construction worker estimates that a wall will take 10 hours to build, but it actually takes 12 hours. What is the percent error in the time estimation?

• 15%

• 20%

• 30%

• 25%