Basic Mathematics and Measurements
9.0 Errors
9.1 Systematic error
9.2 Random errors
9.3 Least count error
9.4 Absolute error
9.5 Mean absolute error
9.6 Relative error or fractional error
9.7 Percentage error
9.0 Errors
9.2 Random errors
9.3 Least count error
9.4 Absolute error
9.5 Mean absolute error
9.6 Relative error or fractional error
9.7 Percentage error
(A). Accuracy: The accuracy of a measurement is a measure of how close the measured value is to the true value of the quantity.
The accuracy in measurement may depend on several factors, including the limit or the resolution of the measuring instrument.
(B). Precision: Precision tells us to what resolution or limit the quantity is measured by a measuring instrument.
Precision is determined by the least count of the measuring instrument. Smaller the least count, greater is the precision.
(C). Errors: The result of every measurement by any measuring instrument contains some uncertainty. This uncertainty is known as error.
Every calculated quantity which is based on measured values also has an error.
(D). Error in measurement: The difference in the measured value and the true value of a quantity is known as an error in measurement.
We will now discuss each type of errors in details.
