A scale reports 15-pound weight as weighing 12.375 pounds. which of the following is true?
The scale is neither precise nor accurate.
The scale is both accurate and precise.
the scale is accurate but not precise.
The scale is precise but not accurate.
The scale is precise but not accurate.
The scale is precise but not accurate.
To determine whether the scale is accurate, precise, or both, we need to understand the definitions of accuracy and precision:
- Accuracy refers to how close a measured value is to the true or expected value.
- Precision refers to how close multiple measurements of the same quantity are to each other, regardless of their closeness to the true value.
In this scenario, the scale reports a weight of 12.375 pounds instead of the expected weight of 15 pounds.
Now, let's analyze each option:
1. The scale is neither precise nor accurate: This option cannot be true because if the scale consistently reports the weight as 12.375 pounds instead of 15 pounds, it demonstrates precision although it is not accurate.
2. The scale is both accurate and precise: This option cannot be true as the scale is consistently reporting a weight that is different from the true weight. It lacks accuracy.
3. The scale is accurate but not precise: This option is also not true because if the scale is consistently reporting a weight that is different from the true weight (12.375 pounds instead of 15 pounds), it lacks accuracy.
4. The scale is precise but not accurate: This option is true. Although the scale consistently reports the weight as 12.375 pounds (demonstrating precision), it is not accurate as it deviates from the true weight of 15 pounds.
Therefore, the correct statement is: The scale is precise but not accurate.