Natural Log Error Propagation
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Uncertainty Logarithm Base 10
vote favorite 2 Can anyone explain why the error for $\ln (x)$ (where for $x$ we have $x\pm\Delta x$) is simply said to be $\frac{\Delta x}{x}$? I would very much appreciate a somewhat rigorous rationalization of this step. Additionally, is this the case for other logarithms (e.g. $\log_2(x)$), or how would that be done? error-analysis share|cite|improve this question edited Jan 25 '14 at 20:01 Chris Mueller 4,72811444 asked Jan 25 '14 at 18:31 Just_a_fool 3341413 logarithmic error calculation add a comment| 2 Answers 2 active oldest votes up vote 17 down vote accepted Simple error analysis assumes that the error of a function $\Delta f(x)$ by a given error $\Delta x$ of the input argument is approximately $$ \Delta f(x) \approx \frac{\text{d}f(x)}{\text{d}x}\cdot\Delta x $$ The mathematical reasoning behind this is the Taylor series and the character of $\frac{\text{d}f(x)}{\text{d}x}$ describing how the function $f(x)$ changes when its input argument changes a little bit. In fact this assumption makes only sense if $\Delta x \ll x$ (see Emilio Pisanty's answer for details on this) and if your function isnt too nonlinear at the specific point (in which case the presentation of a result in the form $f(x) \pm \Delta f(x)$ wouldnt make sense anyway). Note that sometimes $\left| \frac{\text{d}f(x)}{\text{d}x}\right|$ is used to avoid getting negative erros. Since $$ \frac{\text{d}\ln(x)}{\text{d}x} = \frac{1}{x} $$ the error would be $$ \Delta \ln(x) \approx \frac{\Delta x}{x} $$ For arbitraty logarithms we can use the change of the logarithm base: $$ \log_b x = \frac{\ln x}{\ln b}\\ (\ln x = \log_\text{e} x) $$ to obtain $$ \Delta \log_b x \approx \frac{\Delta x}{x \cdot \ln b} $$ share|cite|improve this answer edited Jan 26 '14 at 7:54 answered Jan 25 '14 at 18:39 LeFitz 48949 1 This (nice) answer is correct for the case that $\Delta x\ll x$ but will otherwis
the quantity. Uncertainty in logarithms to other bases (such as common http://phys114115lab.capuphysics.ca/App%20A%20-%20uncertainties/appA%20propLogs.htm logs logarithms to base 10, written as log10 or simply log) is this absolute uncertainty adjusted by a factor (divided by 2.3 for common logs). Note, logarithms do not have units.
\[ ln(x \pm \Delta x)=ln(x)\pm \frac{\Delta x}{x}\] \[~~~~~~~~~ln((95 \pm 5)mm)=ln(95~mm)\pm \frac{ 5~mm}{95~mm}\] \[~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~=4.543 \pm 0.053\]constant size. Indeterminate errors have unpredictable size and sign, with equal likelihood of being + or -. RULES FOR ELEMENTARY OPERATIONS (DETERMINATE ERRORS) SUM RULE: When R = A https://www.lhup.edu/~dsimanek/scenario/errorman/rules.htm + B then ΔR = ΔA + ΔB DIFFERENCE RULE: When R = http://mathworld.wolfram.com/ErrorPropagation.html A - B then ΔR = ΔA - ΔB PRODUCT RULE: When R = AB then (ΔR)/R = (ΔA)/A + (ΔB)/B QUOTIENT RULE: When R = A/B then (ΔR)/R = (ΔA)/A + (ΔB)/B POWER RULE: When R = An then (ΔR)/R = n(ΔA)/A or (ΔR) = n An-1(ΔA) Memory clues: error propagation When quantities are added (or subtracted) their absolute errors add (or subtract). But when quantities are multiplied (or divided), their relative fractional errors add (or subtract). These rules will be freely used, when appropriate. We can also collect and tabulate the results for commonly used elementary functions. Note: Where Δt appears, it must be expressed in radians. RULES FOR ELEMENTARY FUNCTIONS (DETERMINATE ERRORS) natural log error EQUATION ERROR EQUATION R = sin q ΔR = (dq) cos q R = cos q ΔR = -(dq) sin q R = tan q ΔR = (dq) sec2 q R = ex ΔR = (Δx) ex R = e-x ΔR = -(Δx) e-x R = ln(x) ΔR = (Δx)/x Any measures of error may be converted to relative (fractional) form by using the definition of relative error. The fractional error in x is: fx = (ΔR)x)/x where (ΔR)x is the absolute ereror in x. Therefore xfx = (ΔR)x. The rules for indeterminate errors are simpler. RULES FOR ELEMENTARY OPERATIONS (INDETERMINATE ERRORS) SUM OR DIFFERENCE: When R = A + B then ΔR = ΔA + ΔB PRODUCT OR QUOTIENT: When R = AB then (ΔR)/R = (ΔA)/A + (ΔB)/B POWER RULE: When R = An then (ΔR)/R = n(ΔA)/A or (ΔR) = n An-1(ΔA) The indeterminate error rules for elementary functions are the same as those for determinate errors except that the error terms on the right are all positive. Students who are taking calculus will notice that these rules are entirely unnecessary. The determinate er
Random Entry New in MathWorld MathWorld Classroom About MathWorld Contribute to MathWorld Send a Message to the Team MathWorld Book Wolfram Web Resources» 13,594 entries Last updated: Wed Oct 19 2016 Created, developed, and nurturedbyEricWeisstein at WolframResearch Probability and Statistics>Error Analysis> Interactive Entries>Interactive Demonstrations> Error Propagation Given a formula with an absolute error in of , the absolute error is . The relative error is . If , then (1) where denotes the mean, so the sample variance is given by (2) (3) The definitions of variance and covariance then give (4) (5) (6) (where ), so (7) If and are uncorrelated, then so (8) Now consider addition of quantities with errors. For , and , so (9) For division of quantities with , and , so (10) Dividing through by and rearranging then gives (11) For exponentiation of quantities with (12) and (13) so (14) (15) If , then (16) For logarithms of quantities with , , so (17) (18) For multiplication with , and , so (19) (20) (21) For powers, with , , so (22) (23) SEE ALSO: Absolute Error, Accuracy, Covariance, Percentage Error, Precision, Relative Error, Significant Digits, Variance REFERENCES: Abramowitz, M. and Stegun, I.A. (Eds.). Handbook of Mathematical Functions with Formulas, Graphs, and Mathematical Tables, 9th printing. New York: Dover, p.14, 1972. Bevington, P.R. Data Reduction and Error Analysis for the Physical Sciences. New York: McGraw-Hill, pp.58-64, 1969. Referenced on Wolfram|Alpha: Error Propagation CITE THIS AS: Weisstein, Eric W. "Error Propagation." From MathWorld--A Wolfram Web Resource. http://mathworld.wolfram.com/ErrorPropagation.html Wolfram Web Resources Mathematica» The #1 tool for creating Demonstrations and anything technical. Wolfram|Alpha» Explore anything with the first computational knowledge engine. Wolfram Demonstrations Project» Explore thousands of free applications across science, mathematics, engineering, technology, business, art, finance, social sciences, and more. Computerbasedmath.org» Join the initiative for modernizing math education. Online Integral Calculator» Solve integrals with Wolfram|Alpha. Step-by-ste