Question

Charlie guesses that his dog weighs $34.5$ $pounds$. The dog actually weighs $32.7$$pounds$. What is the percent error in Charlie’s guess, to the nearest tenth of a percent?

• A. $0.05\%$
• B. $0.5\%$
• C. $5.2\%$
• D. $5.5\%$

Answer 1

The correct option is A

$0.05\%$

Determine the correct option:

Explanation for the correct option:

Option D:

$\mathrm{percent}\mathrm{error}=\frac{\mathrm{estimated}\mathrm{value}-\mathrm{actual}\mathrm{value}}{\mathrm{actual}\mathrm{value}}\times 100\%$

substitute, $\text{estimated value =34.5,actual value=32.7}$in the equation of percent error :

$\begin{array}{rcl}\mathrm{percent}\mathrm{error}& =& \frac{34.5-32.7}{32.7}\times 100\%\\ & =& \frac{1.8}{32.7}\times 100\%\\ & =& 5.5\%\end{array}$

Thus, option D is the correct answer.

Explanation for the incorrect option:

option A, option B, and option C: The ratio of $\frac{\mathrm{estimated}\mathrm{value}-\mathrm{actual}\mathrm{value}}{\mathrm{actual}\mathrm{value}}$ is $0.0550$.

And it is in the percent form, $5.5\%$

So, option A, option B, and option C has not the percent error value and hence are incorrect options.

Hence, option D is the correct answer.