In measuring the sides of a rectangle, one side is taken 8% in excess and other 5% in deficit. Find the error percentage in the area calculated from these measurements. Choose one:
A) 3.5 %  B) 2.4 %  C) 3 %  D) 5 %  E) 2.6 %

Rationale: "let the sides of the rectangle be a and b . actual area of the rectangle without error = ab new side a ( 8 % in excess ) = a + 0.08 a = 1.08 a new side b ( 5 % in deficit ) = b - 0.05 b = 0.95 b area of the new rectangle = ( 1.08 a ) ( 0.95 b ) = ( 1.0260 ) ab say a = 1 and b = 1 area of the original rectangle = 1 area of the new rectangle = 1.026 change in the area calculation = . 026 error percentage in the area calculated = 2.6 % answer : e"
Answer: E