When air enters a compressor at pressure P1 and leaves at pressure P2, the intermediate pressure is given by P3 = √P1P2. Assume that P1 = 10.1 ± 0.3 MPa and P2 = 20.1 ± 0.4 MPa.
a. Estimate P3, and find the uncertainty in the estimate.
b. Which would provide a greater reduction in the uncertainty in P3: reducing the uncertainty in P1 to 0.2 MPa or reducing the uncertainty in P2 to 0.2 MPa?