Estimating Future Velocity w/ Radar Gun & Internal Error

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Estimating future velocity with a new radar gun involves understanding the internal error associated with the measurement. The discussion highlights that a change in the mean does not necessarily affect the standard deviation, which can remain constant even with different means. To accurately predict future variance and standard deviation, additional data is required to determine if variance has changed. If the new radar gun is more accurately calibrated but not more precise, the average may change while the variance and standard deviation remain the same. Ultimately, making predictions without sufficient data leads to educated guesses rather than precise calculations.
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Suppose I have a radar gun that can measure velocity with an internal error with a mean of 3 m/s and a standard deviation of 1m/s on that error
eg velocity
10 +- 2.8
6 +- 3.1
21 +- 3.2and so on. Now I want to make a prediction of the future when I get a new radar gun. It will have an internal error of roughly 1m/s
How then do I scale the std deviation? by a factor of three?
Thanks all!
 
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A change in the mean doesn't have to change the standard deviation.
The standard deviation could still be 1m/s.

For example {3,4,5,3,4,5} and {7,8,9,7,8,9} have the same standard deviation but different means.

You really need more data to establish a future variance and standard deviation.
 
If you were to make an educated guess would it make sense to scale the std?
What other data would you need?
 
NoobixCube said:
If you were to make an educated guess would it make sense to scale the std?

No, not without more information.

NoobixCube said:
What other data would you need?

You need to know if the variance has changed.

If your future radar gun is no more precise, but simply more accurately calibrated, your average will change but the variance and std.dev. will not.
 
I would think that math could explain & tell every little detail about the future, however I think that you would have to have an equation for everything, so until this "Quantum Theory" stuff is solved. Until then, I think all you 'can' do is make an educated guess. : )
 
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