Calculating Percentage Uncertainty in Gradients

  • Thread starter Thread starter gii
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Uncertainty
Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the percentage uncertainty in gradients of two intersecting lines, where one line has a gradient of 0.503 and the other has a gradient of 0.167. The original poster seeks clarification on the correct approach to this calculation.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster suggests a formula for calculating the percentage uncertainty but seeks validation of their approach. Some participants question the clarity of the problem statement, particularly regarding the nature of the gradients and whether they are given or calculated.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively engaging with the problem, with some providing clarifications and others confirming the original poster's understanding of the gradients. There is an ongoing exploration of the correct method to calculate the percentage uncertainty.

Contextual Notes

There is some ambiguity in the problem description regarding the interpretation of the gradients and their relationship, which is being addressed in the discussion.

gii
Messages
5
Reaction score
0
Hello

I was given following homework question.

2 gradients are given.
gradient1 of the line is 0.503
gradient2 of the line intersecting the line above is 0.167.
Find out the percentage uncertainty in the gradient.

i thought you have to do (0.503-0.167)/0.503
is that right?Please help
thanks in advance
 
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
any ideas if I'm right?
 
Welcome to Physics Forums.

gii said:
Hello

I was given following homework question.

2 gradients are given.
gradient1 of the line is 0.503
gradient2 of the line intersecting the line above is 0.167.
Find out the percentage uncertainty in the gradient.

i thought you have to do (0.503-0.167)/0.503
is that right?


Please help
thanks in advance
I don't understand what the problem is asking from your description. Are there two intersecting lines, with gradients 0.503 and 0.167? Are these gradients given, or are you calculating them somehow?
 
Redbelly98 said:
Welcome to Physics Forums.I don't understand what the problem is asking from your description. Are there two intersecting lines, with gradients 0.503 and 0.167? Are these gradients given, or are you calculating them somehow?

yes there are 2 intersecting lines with one line of best fit having the gradient 0.503 and the other line is the worst straight line having the gradient 0.167

the gradients are given
 
Okay, thanks for clarifying.

gii said:
i thought you have to do (0.503-0.167)/0.503
is that right?

Multiply that calculation by 100% (to get a percentage), and then it looks right.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
5K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
2K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
6K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
1K
  • · Replies 20 ·
Replies
20
Views
2K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
3K
  • · Replies 16 ·
Replies
16
Views
3K