EMERGENCY HELP REQUIRED (within 12 hours)

[† please_help_me †]

Im sure you all know what error bars are, in application to a graph. Basically, i have a grapgh with error bars on the points. I also have a line of best fit. Unfortunately this line of best fit doesn't lie on the margins of the error bars for 1 point out of 9. What does this mean? That it is an anomalous value? That the error bars need to be increased?

A swift reply would be GREATLY appreciated. Thanks in advance

 

[Astronuc]

It is quite possible to have one or more data points with error bars that do not intersect with best fit curve. It hard to know the situation without knowing the data, i.e. indepedent and dependent variables.

The error bars reflect experimental uncertainty perhaps, and it is possible to have high precision/accuracy yield small error bars, and therefore have an 'outlier' in which one of the error bars does not intersect with the best-fit curve. If the outlying datapoint is at the end, then perhaps a different function (curve) would be appropriate. If the other datapoints fall tightly above and below the best fit curve then, it is likely an appropriate best fit.

A single outlier could be an anomalous point, i.e. perhaps there is a measurement error or perhaps another variable/factor affects the results.

 

[quicknote]

Hello,

I understand the urgency of your situation and I will do my best to provide a prompt response. Based on the information provided, it is possible that the point in question is an outlier or an anomalous value, as it falls outside the margins of the error bars. This could indicate that there may be some other factors affecting the data point in question, such as measurement error or an unexpected result.

It is also important to consider the overall trend of the data and the other points on the graph. If the majority of the data points fall within the margins of the error bars and the line of best fit accurately represents the trend of the data, then it is likely that the error bars do not need to be increased. However, if there are multiple points that fall outside the error bars and the line of best fit does not accurately represent the trend, then it may be necessary to increase the error bars to better capture the variability of the data.

In order to make a more informed decision, I would recommend reviewing the data and conducting further analysis to determine the cause of the outlier and the best course of action. I hope this information helps and I wish you the best of luck in resolving this issue within the given time frame. If you require any further assistance, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Best,