Question

Pluto has been hard to measure from Earth because of its atmosphere. In 2007 Young, Young, and Buie measured Pluto as having a diameter of 2322 km. In 2017 new measurements were taken and Pluto is now believed to be 2376.6 km in diameter. Since the older measurement is now considered incorrect, what was the percent error of the 2007 measurement? [enter your answer as a percentage without the % sign] Round to two decimals.

Answer 1

The percent error of the 2007 measurement is 2.30

Explanation:

To determine the percent error of the 2007 measurement,

Percent error is given by

Percent error =
`(|True value - Observed value| )/(True value) * 100%`%

Observed measurement in 2007 = 2322 km

True value (observed in 2017) = 2376.6 km

∴ Percent error =
`(|2376.6 - 2322| )/(2376.6) * 100%`%

Percent error =
`(54.6 )/(2376.6) * 100%`%

Percent error = 0.022974 × 100%

Percent error = 2.2974%

Percent error ≅ 2.30%

Since the answer is required to be entered without the % sign, then

Percent error = 2.30

Hence, the percent error of the 2007 measurement is 2.30.