The HP-55 Enigma

[BMH]

In reply to temperatures and significant digits, In the US we say "normal" body temperature is 98.6F and fever is > 100.4F. Which happens to equal 37C and 38C, respectively. But, since F degrees are smaller (by half) and listed in tenths, this implies much more "accurate" guess at what "normal" is. Not only that, but I am quite certain that the (celsius) thermometer used at the time of the initial studies were not all that accurate to begin with.

It is no wonder that people don't understand what significant digits mean, and why they sometimes freak out over insignificant (normal) variation.