Question

A locomotive train is on its way from chicago, il to madison, wi. the trip is said to last 3.15 hours. when the train arrives in madison the conductor notices it actually took them 3.26 hours. the train company prides itself on always having its trains to the station within a 3% error of the expected time. true or false: the train company live up to its reputation on this trip.

Answer 1

No, the company has not lived up to it's reputation. The predicted time is 3.15. The margin for error is 3.15+/- 3%, which gives an upper limit of 1.03 * 3.15 = 3.25. 3.26 is higher, i.e. later, than 3.25.