I really can't understand uncertainty

[Shing]

I really can't understand "uncertainty"

Hi guys,
I really can't understand "uncertainty"...
How it works, and Why it works
I don't understand..
Like why:
4+/-0.5 x 5.2+/- 0.2
=4x5.2 +/- 0.5 x 0.2?

Would anyone be kind enough to elaborate a bit for me?
Thanks for reading

 

[Shing]

Hi guys,
I really can't understand "uncertainty"...
How it works, and Why it works
I don't understand..
Like why:
4+/-0.5 x 5.2+/- 0.2
=4x5.2 +/- 0.5 x 0.2?

Would anyone be kind enough to elaborate a bit for me?
Thanks for reading

Why moved it here?
It is not homework, not coursework either That was just an example...
If any naive post will be moved, then who will ask questions here?

 

[tomcue]

Hello,

I can understand your confusion about uncertainty. It is a concept that can be difficult to grasp, but it is an essential part of scientific research and analysis.

Uncertainty refers to the lack of knowledge or precision about a certain value or measurement. In your example, the uncertainties of 0.5 and 0.2 represent the possible range of error in the values of 4 and 5.2, respectively.

When we perform calculations with uncertain values, we have to take into account the uncertainties as well. This is why the result of your calculation is expressed as 4x5.2 +/- 0.5 x 0.2. The +/- symbol indicates that the result can vary within a certain range due to the uncertainties in the initial values.

Uncertainty is an important consideration in science because it allows us to understand the limitations of our measurements and results. It also helps us to communicate our findings accurately, by including the uncertainties in our data.

I hope this helps to clarify the concept of uncertainty for you. If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask. Thank you for your interest in science.