Do you need to do uncertainties on percent error? It doesn't make sense to have "percent error on percent error".
A volume is measured experimentally as 4.17 mL. What is the percent error, given that the correct value is 4.1 mL?
Answer in units of %.
When calculating percent error, you compare your measured value or experimental result to the accepted or theoretical value. This allows you to determine how accurate your measurement or calculation is. The percent error formula is typically given as:
Percent Error = [(Measured Value - Accepted Value) / Accepted Value] * 100
Uncertainties, on the other hand, are a way to express the range of possible values around a measurement due to the limitations and inherent variability of the measurement process. Uncertainties can arise from various sources such as instrument limitations, human errors, or the inherent variability of the quantity being measured.
In some cases, it may be relevant to consider uncertainties when calculating percent error. This is especially true when both the measured value and the accepted value are associated with uncertainties. In such cases, it becomes important to account for the uncertainties to understand the overall uncertainty in the percent error.
To incorporate uncertainties into the percent error calculation, you can use the following steps:
1. Calculate the absolute difference between the measured value and the accepted value.
2. Add the uncertainties associated with the measured value and the accepted value in quadrature (i.e., square the uncertainties, sum them, and take the square root).
3. Divide the result obtained in step 1 by the result obtained in step 2.
4. Multiply the result by 100 to obtain the percent error.
By considering uncertainties, you can have a more comprehensive understanding of the accuracy and reliability of your measurement or calculation, especially if uncertainties are present in both the measured and accepted values.