Understanding Absolute Error in Machine Measurements: The 1.3% Mystery Unveiled

In summary, absolute error is a measure of the numerical difference between the measured value and the true value, calculated by taking the absolute value of the difference. It is used to evaluate the accuracy of a measurement and can be reduced by improving precision. It is different from relative error, which measures the difference as a percentage of the true value. Absolute error cannot be negative and a smaller value indicates a closer measurement to the true value.
  • #1
Steve619
4
0
In writing up on errors and knowing the error of the machine used (as told by the technician) as being 1.3%
where I have a table of theoretical and measured values,
The absolute error the difference between the theoretical and measured value, but where does the 1.3% error come into play?

And what type of error is it?
 
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  • #2
Hello Steve, :welcome:

Could you give a bit more context ? What's this about ? And perhaps a few examples of measured and theoretical values ?
 

What is absolute error and how is it calculated?

Absolute error is the numerical difference between the measured value and the true value. It is calculated by taking the absolute value of the difference between the two values. The formula for absolute error is |measured value - true value|.

What is the difference between absolute error and relative error?

Absolute error is a measure of the numerical difference between the measured and true values, while relative error is a measure of the difference as a percentage of the true value. Absolute error is useful for small values, while relative error is more useful for large values.

How do you interpret absolute error?

Absolute error is used to evaluate the accuracy of a measurement. The smaller the absolute error, the closer the measured value is to the true value. A larger absolute error indicates a greater discrepancy between the measured and true values.

How can absolute error be reduced?

Absolute error can be reduced by improving the precision of the measurement. This can be achieved by using more precise equipment, increasing the number of measurements taken, or reducing sources of error in the measurement process.

Can absolute error be negative?

No, absolute error cannot be negative. It is the numerical difference between two values, and the absolute value ensures that the result is always positive. If the measured value is less than the true value, the absolute error will be positive. If the measured value is greater than the true value, the absolute error will be negative.

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