Susan, a new engineering student, is being very careful to write down each calculation step as she proceeds through a complex problem. Her friend Sam, on the other hand, wants to round all numbers to only two digits to get done faster.What is known:

• The traffic light weighs 146.7 lb.
• Cable A is 17.49° from the horizontal.
• Cable B is 11.46° from the horizontal.

What is the tension in both cables using four significant digits and two significant digits? Does rounding numbers to only two digits still provide an accurate answer?

• Solve the problem using the basic steps in engineering problem solving: 1) read 2) draw diagrams 3) write equations 4) solve and 5) check.
• For step 3, use the summation of forces in both the x and y directions:
  
                    ΣF_x = 0        ΣF_y = 0
  
• Solve twice, once with four significant digits and once with two significant digits.