Calculating Percent Error When Accepted Value is 0

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    Error Percent Value
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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the challenge of calculating percent error when the accepted value is zero. Participants explore the implications of division by zero in the context of the percent error formula.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express confusion about how to calculate percent error when the accepted value is zero, noting that division by zero is problematic.
  • One participant suggests that there is no percent error in this case, implying that the concept may not apply when the accepted value is zero.
  • Another participant requests clarification on the reasoning behind the initial question, indicating a need for further explanation.
  • A later reply confirms the issue, reiterating that the accepted value being zero leads to an error in the calculation.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that division by zero presents a problem in calculating percent error, but there is no consensus on how to address this issue or whether percent error can be defined in this context.

Contextual Notes

The discussion highlights the limitations of the percent error formula when the accepted value is zero, but does not resolve how to handle such cases or provide alternative approaches.

whale
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how do you find the percent error when the accepted value is 0? you would be dividing by 0 and that just doesn't work
 
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whale said:
how do you find the percent error when the accepted value is 0? you would be dividing by 0 and that just doesn't work


You have discovered the problem. There is no percent error.
 
Could you explain yourself more clearly? What is it that you are trying to do?

Assaf
http://www.physicallyincorrect.com"
 
Last edited by a moderator:
its ok, i have it under control. The problem was that the accepted value of soemthing was 0, and in the percent error formula, you divide by the accpted value. so when i tried to find the percent error, i would get a number divided by 0 and so it would just give me an error.
 

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