Data analysis: precision, accuracy, standard deviation and significant figures - One Line Questions
1.
The relative standard deviation (RSD), also known as coefficient of variation, is calculated as: —
(Standard Deviation / Mean) * 100
2.
Percent error is calculated as: —
|(Accepted - Experimental) / Accepted| * 100
3.
How many significant figures are in the number 500? —
1
4.
How many significant figures are in the number 500.0? —
4
5.
What is the median of the following data set: 10, 12, 15, 11, 13? —
12
6.
What is the result of 15.00 mL - 0.5 mL, expressed with the correct number of significant figures? —
14.5 mL
7.
How many significant figures are in the number 0.00450? —
3
8.
What is the result of 10.5 m * 2.0 m, expressed with the correct number of significant figures? —
21 m
9.
If a measurement is reported as 25.0 ± 0.2 mL, what is the absolute uncertainty? —
0.2 mL
10.
If you have a sample size of n=5, how many degrees of freedom are there for calculating the sample standard deviation? —
4
11.
How many significant figures are in the number 120.0? —
4
12.
If the accepted value for a sample is 15.00 g and your experimental value is 14.50 g, what is the percent error? —
3.33%
13.
What is the mode of the following data set: 5, 7, 8, 7, 5, 7, 9? —
7
14.
What is the result of 2.5 cm + 3.15 cm, expressed with the correct number of significant figures? —
5.7 cm
15.
What is the result of 9.876 g / 1.23 g, expressed with the correct number of significant figures? —
8.0 g
16.
What is the result of (3.14159 * 2.7) + 0.5, rounded to the appropriate number of significant figures? —
8.5
17.
Which of the following is NOT a way to express uncertainty? —
Variance
18.
Which term describes how close multiple measurements are to each other? —
Precision
19.
Leading zeroes (zeroes to the left of the first non-zero digit) are: —
Never significant
20.
Trailing zeroes in a number without a decimal point are: —
Ambiguous
21.
When reporting a measurement, the last significant digit is: —
An estimated digit.
22.
A higher RSD value generally indicates: —
Worse precision
23.
In which scenario is standard deviation most useful? —
Assessing the reproducibility of measurements.
24.
Which of the following is NOT a source of random error? —
Calibration error of an instrument
25.
A student weighs a sample of pure NaCl and gets 0.585 g. The actual mass is 0.580 g. This indicates: —
Good accuracy and good precision
26.
Which type of error is often due to the limitations of the measuring instrument itself? —
Systematic error
27.
If measurements of a substance are 2.55 g, 2.57 g, and 2.56 g, and the true value is 3.00 g, what is indicated? —
28.
If a chemist performs a titration multiple times and obtains results like 25.1 mL, 25.0 mL, 25.2 mL, this indicates: —
Low accuracy but high precision
29.
If a balance consistently shows a reading of 10.05 g for a 10.00 g standard weight, what characteristic is demonstrated? —
Low accuracy, high precision
30.
If multiple measurements are very close to each other but far from the true value, this indicates: —
Low accuracy, high precision
31.
Which statistical measure best describes the spread of data relative to the mean? —
Standard Deviation
32.
A single outlier value in a data set can significantly affect which statistical measure? —
Mean and Standard Deviation
33.
The standard deviation of a population is denoted by the Greek letter: —
sigma (σ)
34.
Trailing zeroes in a number with a decimal point are: —
Always significant
35.
Zeroes between non-zero digits are always: —
Significant
36.
Which term describes how close a measured value is to the true or accepted value? —
Accuracy
37.
Systematic errors most often affect which aspect of a measurement? —
Accuracy
38.
A thermometer consistently reads 2°C higher than the actual temperature. This is an example of: —
Systematic error
39.
Which of the following would be considered a gross error? —
Forgetting to add a reagent.
40.
Which of the following is a way to minimize systematic errors? —
Calibrating instruments against known standards.
41.
What is the formula for calculating the sample standard deviation (s)? —
sqrt(sum((xi - mean)^2) / (n-1))
42.
Which digit is always considered significant in any non-zero number? —
Any digit from 1 to 9
43.
What does a large standard deviation indicate about a set of measurements? —
The measurements are spread out from the mean.
44.
What does a small standard deviation indicate about a set of measurements? —
The measurements are clustered closely around the mean.
45.
In statistical analysis, what does the mean represent? —
The average of a data set.
46.
Which rule applies when multiplying or dividing numbers with significant figures? —
The result should have the same number of significant figures as the number with the fewest significant figures.
47.
Which rule applies when adding or subtracting numbers with significant figures? —
The result should have the same number of decimal places as the number with the fewest decimal places.
48.
What is the primary purpose of using significant figures in scientific calculations? —
To indicate the precision of the measurements used.
49.
Which of the following is a way to minimize random errors? —
Repeating measurements and averaging the results.
50.
When reporting the result of a measurement with its uncertainty, which format is most appropriate? —
Value ± Absolute Uncertainty