Dividing An Error By A Constant
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find that the error in this measurement is 0.001 in. To find the area we multiply the width (W) and length (L). The area then is L x error propagation dividing by a constant W = (1.001 in) x (1.001 in) = 1.002001 in2 which rounds to 1.002
Uncertainty When Dividing By A Constant
in2. This gives an error of 0.002 if we were given that the square was exactly super-accurate 1 inch a
Error Propagation Division By A Constant
side. This is an example of correlated error (or non-independent error) since the error in L and W are the same. The error in L is correlated with that of in W. Now,
Dividing Uncertainties
suppose that we made independent determination of the width and length separately with an error of 0.001 in each. In this case where two independent measurements are performed the errors are independent or uncorrelated. Therefore the error in the result (area) is calculated differently as follows (rule 1 below). First, find the relative error (error/quantity) in each of the quantities that enter to the calculation, relative error in uncertainty formula physics width is 0.001/1.001 = 0.00099900. The resultant relative error is Relative Error in area = Therefore the absolute error is (relative error) x (quantity) = 0.0014128 x 1.002001=0.001415627. which rounds to 0.001. Therefore the area is 1.002 in2± 0.001in.2. This shows that random relative errors do not simply add arithmetically, rather, they combine by root-mean-square sum rule (Pythagorean theorem). Let’s summarize some of the rules that applies to combining error when adding (or subtracting), multiplying (or dividing) various quantities. This topic is also known as error propagation. 2. Error propagation for special cases: Let σx denote error in a quantity x. Further assume that two quantities x and y and their errors σx and σy are measured independently. In this case relative and percent errors are defined as Relative error = σx / x, Percent error = 100 (σx / x) Multiplying or dividing with a constant. The resultant absolute error also is multiplied or divided. Multiplication or division, relative error. Addition or subtraction: In this case, the absolute errors obey Pythagorean theorem. If a and b are constants, If there are more than two measured quantities, you can exten
would be your guess: can an American Corvette get away if chased by an Italian police Lamborghini?
The top speed of the Corvette error propagation division is 186 mph ± 2 mph. The top speed of the Lamborghini Gallardo error propagation exponential is 309 km/h ± 5 km/h. We know that 1 mile = 1.61 km. In order to convert the speed of error propagation calculator the Corvette to km/h, we need to multiply it by the factor of 1.61. What should we do with the error? Well, you've learned in the previous section that when you multiply two quantities, http://www.utm.edu/~cerkal/Lect4.html you add their relative errors. The relative error on the Corvette speed is 1%. However, the conversion factor from miles to kilometers can be regarded as an exact number.1 There is no error associated with it. Its relative error is 0%. Thus the relative error on the Corvette speed in km/h is the same as it was in mph, 1%. (adding relative errors: 1% + 0% = 1%.) It https://phys.columbia.edu/~tutorial/propagation/tut_e_4_3.html means that we can multiply the error in mph by the conversion constant just in the same way we multiply the speed. So our answer for the maximum speed of the Corvette in km/h is: 299 km/h ± 3 km/h. Now we are ready to answer the question posed at the beginning in a scientific way. The highest possible top speed of the Corvette consistent with the errors is 302 km/h. The lowest possible top speed of the Lamborghini Gallardo consistent with the errors is 304 km/h. Bad news for would-be speedsters on Italian highways. No way can you get away from that police car. The rule we discussed in this chase example is true in all cases involving multiplication or division by an exact number. You simply multiply or divide the absolute error by the exact number just as you multiply or divide the central value; that is, the relative error stays the same when you multiply or divide a measured value by an exact number. << Previous Page Next Page >> 1 For this example, we are regarding the conversion 1 mile = 1.61 km as exact. Actually, the conversion factor has more significant digits. Home - Credits - Feedback © Columbia UniversityWorkSocial MediaSoftwareProgrammingWeb Design & DevelopmentBusinessCareersComputers Online Courses B2B Solutions Shop for Books San Francisco, CA Brr, it´s cold outside Search Submit Learn more with dummies Enter your email to join our mailing list for FREE content right to your inbox. Easy! Your email Submit RELATED ARTICLES Simple Error Propagation http://www.dummies.com/education/science/biology/simple-error-propagation-formulas-for-simple-expressions/ Formulas for Simple Expressions Key Concepts in Human Biology and Physiology Chronic Pain and Individual Differences in Pain Perception Pain-Free and Hating It: Peripheral Neuropathy Neurotransmitters That Reduce or Block Pain Load more EducationScienceBiologySimple Error Propagation Formulas for Simple Expressions Simple Error Propagation Formulas for Simple Expressions Related Book Biostatistics For Dummies By John Pezzullo Even though some general error-propagation formulas are very complicated, the rules for propagating SEs through some error propagation simple mathematical expressions are much easier to work with. Here are some of the most common simple rules. All the rules that involve two or more variables assume that those variables have been measured independently; they shouldn't be applied when the two variables have been calculated from the same raw data. Adding or subtracting a constant doesn't change the SE Adding (or subtracting) an exactly known numerical constant (that has no SE by a constant at all) doesn't affect the SE of a number. So if x = 38 ± 2, then x + 100 = 138 ± 2. Likewise, if x = 38 ± 2, then x - 15 = 23 ± 2. Multiplying (or dividing) by a constant multiplies (or divides) the SE by the same amount Multiplying a number by an exactly known constant multiplies the SE by that same constant. This situation arises when converting units of measure. For example, to convert a length from meters to centimeters, you multiply by exactly 100, so a length of an exercise track that's measured as 150 ± 1 meters can also be expressed as 15,000 ± 100 centimeters. For sums and differences: Add the squares of SEs together When adding or subtracting two independently measured numbers, you square each SE, then add the squares, and then take the square root of the sum, like this: For example, if each of two measurements has an SE of ± 1, and those numbers are added together (or subtracted), the resulting sum (or difference) has an SE of A useful rule to remember is that the SE of the sum or difference of two equally precise numbers is about 40 percent larger than the SE of one of the numbers