Sampling techniques can be used to estimate physical quantities. To estimate a l
ID: 3149016 • Letter: S
Question
Sampling techniques can be used to estimate physical quantities. To estimate a large quantity, you might measure a representative small sample and find the total quantity by "scaling up." To estimate a small quantity, you might measure several of the small quantities together and "scale down." In the following problem, describe your estimation technique and answer the question. How thick is a penny? a nickel? a dime? a quarter? Would you rather have your height stacked in pennies, nickels, dimes, or quarters?
What is a good method for estimating the thickness of each coin?
A.
Stack some coins to a measureable height such as 2 inches, and then divide the height of the stack by the number of coins in the stack. Do this for each type of coin.
B.
Stack some coins to a measureable height such as 2 inches, and then multiply the height of the stack by the number of coins in the stack. Do this for each type of coin.
C.
Stack some coins to a measureable height such as 2 inches, and then divide the height of the stack by the number of coins in the stack. The thickness of the rest of the coins is about half of this quotient.
D.
Take one of each coin and make a stack. Measure the height, and then divide the height of the stack by the number of coins in the stack.
How thick is a penny?
A penny is
___________ mm thick.
(Round to one decimal place as needed.)
How thick is a nickel?
A nickel is
_______ mm thick.
(Round to one decimal place as needed.)
How thick is a dime?
A dime is
_________ mm thick.
(Round to one decimal place as needed.)
How thick is a quarter?
A quarter is
______ mm thick.
Explanation / Answer
Option A is the answer, as total height is thickness of one coin times number of coins. Hence thickness of one coin is just the inverse ie, total height divded by number of coins.
You cannot consider different type of coins as different coins will have different thickness and cannot be solved by a single stack of coins.
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