A student measures the speed of sound as u = f, where f is the frequency shown on the dial of an audio oscillator, and is the wavelength mea- sured by locating several maxima in a resonant air column. Because there are several measurements of, they can be analyzed statistically, and the student concludes that = 11.2 + 0.5 cm. Only one measurement has been taken of f = 3,000 Hz (the setting on the oscillator), and the student has no way to judge its reliability. The instructor says that the oscillator is "certainly 1% reliable"; therefore, the student allows for a 1% systematic error in f (but none in ). What is the student's answer for u with its uncertainty? Is the possible 1% systematic error from the oscillator's calibration important?