Circular
S/IF/93/13
December 2013
To:
The Principals of Post-primary Schools and Directors of Further and Higher Education
For circulation to:
Heads of Mathematics Departments and Examination Officers
GCSE Mathematics
Appropriate degree of accuracy
In a calculation, an appropriate degree of accuracy will not be more accurate than the least
accurate value given.
If some of the values given in a calculation are to 2 and 3 significant figures, it is not
appropriate to give a degree of accuracy to more than 2 significant figures.
e.g If two sides of a right angled triangle are 1.6cm and 1.1cm, then the hypotenuse can be
calculated as √(1.62 + 1.12) = √(3.77) = 1.941648……
An acceptable degree of accuracy is 1.9 but 1.94 is not acceptable (3 significant figures).
2 is an appropriate degree of accuracy to 1 significant figure.
If you have any queries regarding the content of this circular please contact:
Joe McGurk at CCEA on: (028 90 261200 ext: 2106)
Email: jmcgurk@ccea.org.uk