What is Errors: Definition and 346 Discussions

An error (from the Latin error, meaning "wandering") is an action which is inaccurate or incorrect. In some usages, an error is synonymous with a mistake.
In statistics, "error" refers to the difference between the value which has been computed and the correct value. An error could result in failure or in a deviation from the intended performance or behavior.

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  1. A

    Histogram fitting: fit parameter errors not corresponding with optimizer results

    Hi I'm having some big problems with some data! I will try to keep this as simple as possible... I have a random variable that admits a probability distribution that I have a fit function for. With a large enough number of samples I can get good estimates of the fit function parameters via...
  2. P

    Numerical integration and errors

    Hi, I was wondering if anyone can point me to a general treatment of errors when doing numerical integration of measured variables? My problem is that I am integrating force with respect to displacement (of a piston) in an attempt to calculate work...and getting some impossible numbers...
  3. W

    What kind of errors would be produced by excess taq in PCR?

    What kind of errors would be produced by "excess" taq in PCR? Not sure if this belong in the Homework section. Put it here since it's not homework. What kind of errors will I get by adding 6.75µL taq pol to +50µL of cDNA? The master mix will be added to the cDNA resulting in an excess of taq...
  4. S

    Question regarding errors & uncertianty

    I have a simple task of measuring the changes in volume (delta V) of water due to rising temperatures. I have trouble combining certain errors. How would one get the error for (V0-V)/V if one already knows the error for V0(volume at start of measurement) and V(measurement of volume). I...
  5. S

    Approximating Standard Errors

    Hi, I have a question about standard errors in the context of this problem. Any help would be greatly appreciated: Suppose X is a discrete random variable with P(X=0) = 2y/3 P(X=1) = y/3 P(X=2) = 2(1-y)/3 P(X=3) = (1-y)/3 Where 0<=y<=1. The following 10 independent observations were...
  6. L

    LaTeX Debugging Latex Code: 28 Errors and Still Trying

    hi. not sure if this is the right forum. i have latex code that I'm trying to get to print but it's giving me 28 errors and i can't find any of them i've got it to display nice but I'm still getting 28 errors when i run and they're all apparently related to missing brackets and stuff but i...
  7. U

    Combining Errors for Trigonometric Functions: Understanding the Formula

    This is just my own practise question. I have a relationship of r = \frac{D}{2}sin4\theta The apparent error formula is now: \left(\frac{\Lambda r}{r}\right)^{2} = \left(\frac{\Lambda D}{D}\right)^{2} + 16 \left(\frac{\Lambda \theta}{tan 4 \theta}\right)^{2} Using a standard...
  8. A

    This is not an error, but rather a statement about arrays.

    Homework Statement Suppose we have the following program segments: int *zPtr; int *aPtr = NULL; void *sPtr = NULL; int number,i; int z[5] = {1,2,3,4,5}; sPtr = z; point out the error of the following code: (a) ++zPtr; (b) number = zPtr; (c) number =...
  9. D

    [Check for errors]- FREE BODY DIAGRAM for 2 Cylinders.

    Ok as you seen I been trying to get familiar with a few different type of exercises, this is a FBD type exercise. I attached the picture showing the exercise done, I just want you to check if you notice any errors, thanks you. Homework Statement Cylinder A- Mass 75kg and...
  10. G

    Error in Measurements: Confused?

    This has been very comfusing. Is the error in taking a reading the smallest or half the smallest division? Say a standard 30cm ruler, you can judge to nearest 0.5mm but since you take 2 readings you need to double the error. But then in titrations using a lab burette you count the titre as half...
  11. F

    I am doing a project analysis and need some help with errors

    Basically, I have used microwaves in a wave guide to measure the width of the guide via standing waves. This led me to plot a graph of 1/wavelength in the guide^2 vs 1/wavelength^2 in air. The graph showed the following formula; y = 1.0741x + 455.08 with an R^2 value of 0.9979 from 5 points...
  12. S

    How do I stop making careless errors on physics tests?

    I just lost 20 points on my last physics test because of making stupid careless mistakes how can i cut down on these my teacher doesn't give partial credit on one question i thought it asked to find the maximum height, it turned out that it asked for the Range the object traveled...
  13. S

    Fortran Fortran 95 Help ( Compiling errors)

    Hello all, I'm kinda stuck with this fortran 95 program I have to write. It is an Infinite Series of SIN. IMPLICIT NONE ! ! Data Dictionary REAL :: x ! Measurement of angle in degrees REAL :: result ! facilitates addition of the functions REAL :: f_x ! function defining the series REAL...
  14. L

    Help me find experimental errors in my bottle rocket experiment, Hurry please?

    Could you please help me find experimental error in bottle rocket experiment that could have affected my results. The experiment is where a bottle gets filled with water, a third of their volume and then they get pressurized to fly in the air. So could you please find me experimental errors...
  15. L

    Comp Sci Solving "Strange" Syntax Errors with Cookie Fun

    Homework Statement We had to basically modify a few variables in the given code and then shoot it out with a valid output. I decided to have some fun with it. However I get a strange syntax error, here is the code: //Conditionals controlling the cookie response output if(cookies...
  16. Jonathan Scott

    Getting connection reset errors in Chrome

    Getting "connection reset" errors Today I've had several errors when following links around the forums, but refreshing the page works immediately. The error occurs immediately (not like a timeout) and the "errors details" say that the connection was reset by the server. Here's what Google...
  17. D

    Error Checking Single Slit Diffraction Equation for Bright Lines

    I believe there are a number of errors in my physics correspondence course and I plan to include a page listing them when I write my final exam, but I would first like to make sure they are errors and not due to my lack of understanding. 1) "The coulomb is defined as the amount of charge...
  18. E

    Mathematica Understanding Errors in Mathematica: How to Locate and Solve Them

    Hello, Is there any way to know where exactly are the errors occurred in Mathematica? For example, I have the following error in my long code: During evaluation of In[359]:= \[Infinity]::indet: Indeterminate \ expression 0 ComplexInfinity encountered. >> During evaluation of In[359]:=...
  19. J

    Fortran What Could Be Causing Errors in My Fortran Program Compilation?

    Hi there I compile the following Fortran program but it shows more error it output file. can you help me. with Regards, jamshid INCLUDE '(SCOHLP)' INCLUDE '(PAPROP)' * * ******LOGICAL LFIRST ******SAVE LFIRST, ZMIN, DELTAZ ******DATA LFIRST /.TRUE./ * Initialization...
  20. T

    Averaging Errors: Calculating Error for 2 Values

    This isn't a set problem itself, rather it is just a small part of my chemisty coursework. I have two values with known errors a) -0.000379272 ± 1.75895E-05 b) -0.000576206 ± 4.13448E-05 What happens to the errors when i average the two values?
  21. N

    Potential Sources of Error in Lactate Absorption Measurements

    Hello! I've got a question that asks what is the most likely reason that my experimental absortion plot for lactate differs from the theoretical. I figured it's simply incorrect volumes transferred via the pippette. Could it be the other chemicals in the solution? Although they're 'not supposed...
  22. N

    Analyzing Errors of a Wheatsone Bridge Experiment

    I have done the data processing for a Wheatsone bridge experiment. The data are: 79,66 79,30 136,70 126,60 188,08 173,40 204,00 196,00 243,90 237,40 260,96 257,40 111,34 93,90 240,00 240,00 341,20 344,10 380,92 398,10 164,00 144,00 241,20 218,80 288,00 280,00 293,40 266,50 424,56...
  23. T

    Errors in Analogue & Digital Multimeters: Why?

    I've a circuit with a power supply of 1.95V and a resistor 100ohms. To measure the current through the resistor, I use an analogue multimeter. This turns out to be 1.9x10^-4 A. But, from the calculation using the formula I=V/R, I should be 1.95x10^-2. Shouldn't an analogue multimeter be accurate...
  24. I

    How do we calculate experimental errors?

    Homework Statement The problem let's us graph and give values for s(m) (distance) t(s) time and delta t (s) velocity. After plotting my second graph (including error bars) I used it to get the slope and the acceleration. But then it asks to determine the experimental error. Is there any...
  25. P

    2D kinematics? Have equations but making errors?

    When Babe Ruth hit a homer over the 7.5-m-high right-field fence 95 m from home plate, roughly what was the minimum speed of the ball when it left the bat? Assume the ball was hit 1.0 m above the ground and its path initially made a 38º angle with the ground 2. Vx= Vcosθ...
  26. B

    Combining Errors: Solving Pythagorean Distance Error

    I didn't really know on the forum to put this, it isn't really homework or coursework, but it is a very small part of a project I am doing for uni, so essentially it could be worth marks so here it is, anyway... Homework Statement Im rubbish at combining errors and was wondering if someone...
  27. R

    How Likely is Random Error in Atomic Force Microscope Measurements?

    Homework Statement An atomic force microscope measures the distance between two atoms to be 1.1nm with a standard error of 0.3nm. A second AMF measures the distance to be 1.6nm with a standard error of 0.4nm. The measurements are repeated 12 times with the first AMF, and 16 times with...
  28. H

    Troubleshooting TI-83 Plus Driver Errors

    I have a TI 83 Plus, and i wanted to put some programs on my calculator. But the problem is, every time i install my TI connect software and Graph Link, and connect my calculator, it says that the driver not found. no matter what i do, it always says that driver not found. I go in the TI connect...
  29. O

    How to deal with slowly varying errors?

    Hi, Here's a tricky sort of general problem I've been encountering quite a bit lately. It's all about errors that vary slowly. So: the way I've always been taught to deal with errors is to lump them into two different categories: "random errors", that are independent between measurements...
  30. D

    I keep getting errors in a simple copper sulfate experiment

    Homework Statement I need to find the total number of water molecules per copper sulfate molecule. The answer is 5. But, I keep getting ~4 with the average of two dehydrating experiments. 2. Homework Equations with my Attempts I am just using simple factor equations for these. I am...
  31. U

    Are there any errors or errata in Rudin's Principles of Mathematical Analysis?

    I have cracked open Baby Rudin for the first time and I would like to ask if anybody knows of an errata that is on the "web"? I cannot find one. I wanted to print one out before I get in too deep and hurt myself. Also, on page 2 (that's right, only pg. 2) , (4) has an exponent in front of a...
  32. T

    LaTeX Fixing Latex Errors: Tips for Achieving a Polished Document

    Do you do it? I tend to not do it as long as it looks fine.
  33. K

    Analyzing Errors in Converging Lens Calculations

    Homework Statement My task was to determine the focal distance and the magnification of a converging lens. I've done everything as stated in the procedure. The problem that i have is that when i am calculating the magnification in two differents ways i.e M1=b/a and M2=h'/h where a=distance...
  34. humanino

    Errors & Meaning: Evolution through DNA Replication

    Evolution originates in small errors occurring during the ADN replication. This can have dramatic effects. For instanceA woman, without her man, is nothingA woman: without her, man is nothing Or : The IRS Theirs Do you know of others ?
  35. M

    LaTeX Troubleshooting Latex Errors on Forums

    Hi, I don't know if it's some mistake that I've been committing without realising it, but the Latex facility provided by this forum has given me no end of trouble. The following are two major problems I've faced: 1) Post preview generates a database error if there is too much latex in one...
  36. T

    LaTeX Troubleshooting Latex Errors: Why Do Certain Latex Commands Always Have Errors?

    how come whenever I use latex...for some reason two of the latex have errors but the others always work when I preview...if I try deleting those two which have errors than some other two latex have errors then...why?any way to around the problem?
  37. M

    Electrical energy meter errors

    A three phase and three wire energy meter has installed in a medium voltage network with a lot of third harmonic current and unbalanced load (approximately %10). As you know, any distortion in sine wave and deviation of rated frequency in AC electrical system may be cause the increasing of...
  38. K

    Errors with my c compiler,Help

    Am writting programs in c that contain double matrices. When i run it and input data, an error appears on the screen scanf: floating point format not linked Abnormal program termination. Is this a problem about my system? I guess. Actually i am using vista premium. What can i do to solve...
  39. W

    MATLAB Matlab, iteration with Newton's method, noobs & errors

    Hi, I have to describe the famous Newton-rapshon algorithm for finding a root of the function this is what i came up with, i aint not familiar with MATLAB and programming at all, so this is somewhat a melt from a lot of MATLAB tutorials, I don't master the code, but what's really a challenge...
  40. A

    How Does Elasticity Affect Collisions in Baseball Physics?

    if you want to help my lab is on physics and baseball and the elasticity of the collisions between the ball and the bat email me at roxysurfgirl916@yahoo.com
  41. N

    Detect and Correct Errors in Modified Error-Correcting Hamming Code

    A 16-bit word is coded in modified error correcting Hamming code and after that is stored into a cell of the main memory. After some time a program reads the cell and the following word is read into the memory data register: 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 Perform all...
  42. D

    How to avoid errors when changing a hydrate to anhydride?

    what are the possible unavoidable errors when changing a hydrate to an anhydrous. the procedure called for heating the hydrate in a crucible a few times and cooling to room temp in a desiccator until mass measured was constant. also why wouldn't this procedure work for all hydrates? thank you...
  43. F

    What Causes Errors in Newton's Second Law Experiments?

    I am writing a lab report on Newton's second law...:) I got some errors while calculating the slope (mass). What factors could bring out those errors? and How can they be imporved? I don understand what i m suppose to approach...If anybody cud help me with that...thanks
  44. M

    Could you know you were living in a simulation if it had errors or exceptions?

    Let's assume we live in a simulation, but for whatever reason the physics of it are not modeled perfectly. Perhaps the computing power is insufficient to reproduce everything with 100% accuracy. Let's say that as you look at smaller and smaller things, the simulation begins to give...
  45. K

    Software/Hardware Errors on Startup

    My parents PC is having a problem I've never encountered before and I have no idea what could be causing it. Just wondering if anyone here had experienced anything similar. The PC is running windows XP service pack 2. It seems to start up fine but when you sign into your desktop there are...
  46. A

    Linear approximation and errors

    [SOLVED] Linear approximation Homework Statement Juan measures the circumference C of a spherical ball at 40cm and computes the ball's volume V. Estimate the maximum possible error in V if the error in C is as most 2cm. Recall that C=2(pi)r and V=(4/3)pi(r) Homework Equations deltaf -...
  47. C

    Calculators Troubleshooting HP50G Syntax Errors for MSOLV

    I recently purchased an HP50G as I caught my TI-89 giving me incorrect results when solving simultaneous equations. However I can't get the 50G to do anything but tell me invalid syntax. I am using MSOLV as follows: MSOLV('[x/60+x/15+(x-y)/5-15=0][y/2+(y-x)/5+5=0][x,y] This is the syntax...
  48. F

    Percentage Error for Length & PD Measurement Questions

    Homework Statement What are the percentage errors for lengths measured with meter rulers and potential differences measured with voltmeters? I have a question asking me which of the two measurements can be measured more accurately, based on which one's percentage error is lower. Homework...
  49. Ivan Seeking

    Spelling and Grammar Errors: Why Do We Make Them and How Can We Improve?

    Do you misspell words or make other errors when you know better? For example, I constantly find myself going back and changing too, to to, or two, etc. Twice now I caught myself wanting to spell delusional with a dill.. :rolleyes: I have no idea where that one comes from. I have also noticed...
  50. H

    Common Titration Errors and How They Can Affect Results

    I did a titration lab to find out the weight percent of CO3^2- in an unknown sample which contains only NaCL and CaCO3^2-. My results were about 29% for the first titration and 18% for the second titration; I was wondering the types of error that led to this ~10% difference. Some of the...
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