# In maths what does an ‘exact value’ mean? (Higher Maths)?

I know what it means in trig, but when applied in general?

For example, I was doing a question and the question asked me to answer with an 'exact value'.

The answer I got was 5/0.7. When I checked the answer it was 50/7. I can see where they got this answer, but I guess my question is really, is an exact value one without decimal points? Thank you in advance 😀

• √2 = 1.4142135623730950488016887242097

you would just leave it as √2, you wouldn't put 1.41

since 5/.7 = 50/7 either would be an exact value

you wouldn't write

5/.7 = 7.1428571428571428571428571428571

5/.7 = 7.14

you just leave it as 5/.7 or 50/7

• NO. An exact value is one that is not approximated. If you answer has a radical in it, you leave the radical and do not approximate it. If it has a fraction such as 1/3, you leave it and do not approximate it as .3 or .33 or even.333333333333333

Another explanation:

Exact value is where you cannot estimate the value you must be precise, eg; you can’t estimate something as being around about 5 centimetres; no you need an exact value such as 5.62.

In short, your answer 5/0.7 is every bit as exact as 50/7.

http://www.ssc.education.ed.ac.uk/bsl/maths/bslexa...