Calculating Error and Percent Error in Measurements

The video tutorial explains the concept of error in measurements, how to calculate it, and the importance of understanding percent error. It provides examples to illustrate how error and percent error are calculated and interpreted, emphasizing the significance of percent error in assessing measurement accuracy. The tutorial also presents the equation for percent error, combining the error and actual value to determine the relative size of the error.

Why is it important to understand the concept of error in measurements?

• To always get the exact value

• To know how far off our measurements are

• To avoid making any measurements

• To increase the error in measurements

How is error defined in the context of measurements?

• Actual value minus measured value

• Measured value minus actual value

• Measured value plus actual value

• Actual value divided by measured value

What is the error if the measured value is 503.5 feet and the actual value is 500.0 feet?

• 0.5 feet

• 2.8 feet

• 1.5 feet

• 3.5 feet

What does a negative error value indicate?

• The error calculation is incorrect

• The measured value is equal to the actual value

• The measured value is lower than the actual value

• The measured value is higher than the actual value

Why is percent error a useful metric?

• It tells us the exact error value

• It compares the error to the size of the measurement

• It always gives a positive error value

• It eliminates the need for actual measurements

How is percent error calculated?

• Error divided by actual value times 100%

• Error divided by measured value times 100%

• Actual value divided by error times 100%

• Measured value divided by error times 100%

What is the percent error if the error is 3.5 feet and the actual value is 500.0 feet?

• 3.5%

• 1.5%

• 2.8%

• 0.7%

What is the percent error if the error is 3.5 feet and the actual value is 17 feet?

• 0.7%

• 3.5%

• 2.8%

• 21%

What does a high percent error indicate?

• The actual value is incorrect

• The measurement is accurate

• The error is significant

• The error is insignificant

How can the equations for error and percent error be combined?

• By adding the error to the actual value

• By taking the absolute value of the error divided by the actual value times 100%

• By subtracting the actual value from the error

• By multiplying the error by the actual value