A physical quantity P is related to four observables a, b, c, and d as follows :

P=a3b2/cd

The percentage errors of measurement in a, b, c, and d are 1%, 3%, 4%, and 2%, respectively. What is the percentage error in the quantity P ? If the value of P calculated using the above relation turns out to be 3.763, to what value should you round off the result?

P = a3b2cd
PP = 3aa + 2bb + 12cc + dd
PP × 100% = 3 × aa × 100 + 2 × bb × 100 + 12 × cc ×100 + dd × 100%
= 3 × 1 + 2 × 3 + 12 × 4 + 2
= 3 + 6 + 2 + 2 = 13 %

Percentage error in P = 13 %

The value of P is given as 3.763.

By rounding off the given value to the first decimal place, we get P = 3.8.

Note: The video solution is for a similar question.