Word problems

[RobinK]

Hey guys. Just need some help on the word problems from TMSCA 12-13 HSCL Test 9.

What is the percent difference between the height of Mt. Everest, the tallest land feature at 29,029ft above sea level, and K2, the second tallest mountain at 28,251ft above sea level?
I am just confused on how many sig figs I should put. Shouldn't the answer have 5 sig figs?

950^1050 + 980^1045

A vacuum pump removes 1% of the air in a jar on each stroke of its piston. How many strokes will it take to remove 99% of the air?

At atmospheric temperature, helium condenses to a liquid when cooled below -452.07 F. What is this temperature in Kelvins?

Thanks.

[darksaber21]

[101dalmatians]

[darksaber21]

[101dalmatians]

[darksaber21]

It actually isn't. I think it is four SD, from what it looks like.

[RobinK]

Thanks! I remember the key said it had 4 sig figs.

[101dalmatians]

Why 4? Both the numbers have five SDs right?

[007math]

Why isn't it 3SD? The numerator would be 28251-29029 = -778 which is 3SD. Divide by a 5SD number and your answer should remain 3SD, right?

[darksaber21]

For significant figure problems, they made it seem like you can never use the same number more than once.

So, for percent difference, always divide the two numbers first, then subtract by one, then multiply by 100%.


I shouldn't have erased my work in a previous post. Don't know what I was thinking. But here is what I mean (all numbers I write out except for exact numbers are written in the correct number of significant figures):
[unparseable or potentially dangerous latex formula]

[unparseable or potentially dangerous latex formula]

[unparseable or potentially dangerous latex formula]

[unparseable or potentially dangerous latex formula], [unparseable or potentially dangerous latex formula]

[101dalmatians]

Oh..... :O

[nsguy1350]

[101dalmatians]

Ugh Whatever. At least only -2 for SDs (always miss them!!!!!!!!) :O

[smeag]

OK, in Calculator Applications... When I look at the solutions for all of the tests, I find a very simple formula that fits each situation. Are these to be memorized or derived during the test??? For example, A cube with a pyramidal cavity of 71.2. Find the surface area. The answer is simply 71.2^2(5 + sqrt(5)). I know this example isn't very hard but I've seen much harder problems with very easy "plug and solve" equations...
Please answer soon, and thanks!

[101dalmatians]