A records voltages from 0 volts to 20 volts. If the average value for three readings on the meter was 16 volts, then what the smallest number possible reading, in volts?
since the largest reading is 20, you have
x+20+20 = 3*16
x = 8
for the smallest.
To find the smallest possible reading, we need to consider the range of values the other two readings can take. Since the average of the three readings is given as 16 volts, we can assume that the sum of the three readings is 3 times the average, which is 3 * 16 volts = 48 volts.
Let's call the smallest reading x volts. The sum of the two other readings would then be 48 - x volts.
According to the given information, the voltage range is from 0 to 20 volts. Therefore, the two readings must also lie in this range.
To find the smallest possible reading, we need to consider the largest possible second reading, which would be 20 volts (since it is the maximum allowed). This means the third reading can be at its smallest value.
Let's set the second reading to be 20 volts and solve for the third reading:
x + 20 + third reading = 48
third reading = 48 - x - 20 = 28 - x volts
Since the smallest possible reading is desired, we want the third reading to be as small as possible. Therefore, the smallest number possible reading in volts is when the third reading is at its minimum, which is 0 volts.
So, the smallest possible reading is x = 48 - 20 - 0 = 28 volts.