How do you find Absolute error and how do you find relative error?
Absolute error is the difference between the experimental value and the actual value. Relative error, usually expressed as a percent, is the error relative to the correct value. For example,
ABSOLUTE ERROR:
We perform an analysis on a sample for Na. We find 34.0%. We turn in the results and the instructor tell us she made the samples and they were 36.0% Na. Absolute error is xexp - xtrue = 34.0-36.0= -2.0%.
RELATIVE ERROR:
Same values as above.
relative error = [(34.0-36.0)/36.0]x100=5.56%
To find the absolute error, follow these steps:
1. Determine the experimental value: This is the value that you obtained through measurement or calculation.
2. Determine the actual or true value: This is the known or accepted value that you are comparing the experimental value to.
3. Calculate the difference between the experimental value and the actual value: Subtract the actual value from the experimental value. The result will give you the absolute error.
To find the relative error, follow these steps:
1. Calculate the absolute error as described above.
2. Divide the absolute error by the actual value.
3. Multiply the result by 100 to obtain the relative error as a percentage.
It is important to note that both absolute error and relative error are measures of accuracy or precision in experimental or calculated values. Absolute error provides the magnitude of the difference between the values, while relative error expresses this difference in relation to the actual value.