[philonossis]

"What is the value of the atomic masses for each of the following elements?
(a) sulfur
(b) nitrogen
(c) gold
(d) iron

There is a chart of "Atomic number and atomic masses of the elements" in the book.  The book's answers are the same as the chart figures all elements except gold. For gold the chart gives 196.96655.
The book gives 196.9665.

Chart figures and book answers to problem:

(a) sulfur: chart: 32.065, book answer to problem: 32.065
(b) nitrogen: chart: 14.0067, book answer 14.0067
(c) gold: chart: 196.96655, book answer 196.9665 <----
(d) iron: chart: 55.845, book answer: 55.845

Is there any reason the book would drop the last digit? I cannot see any sig fig factor here.

[S.V.]

I'm pretty sure that 196.96655 is correct. This rounds to 196.9666 as opposed to 196.9665, suggesting that the book may have accidentally dropped the last digit. In general calculations, 3-4 digits past the decimal (i.e. 196.967) should be fine, I think, but you might need to go farther for high level chem.

[JGK]

I'm pretty sure that 196.96655 is correct. This rounds to 196.9666 as opposed to 196.9665

No it doesn't, depending on which rounding rule you apply 196.96655 can be rounded to either 196.9666 or 196.9665

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rounding#Tie-breaking

[philonossis]

I'm pretty sure that 196.96655 is correct. This rounds to 196.9666 as opposed to 196.9665

No it doesn't, depending on which rounding rule you apply 196.96655 can be rounded to either 196.9666 or 196.9665

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rounding#Tie-breaking

In my book (Into to Chemical Principles, Stoker) , the rounding rule is the odd-even rule for this case. If the number to be eliminated is a five or a five followed by only zeros, then if the number to be kept is even then the five or five followed by only zeros is just dropped.  If the number to be kept is odd, then it is increased by one number.

If on the other hand, the number to be dropped is greater than five or a five followed by numbers other than zero, then the number to be retained is increased by one whether odd or even.