What is the formula for percent-error? It's either:

%error= (your value/accepted value)*100
or
%error= (accepted value/your value)*100

I'm pretty sure it's the first one, but I also heard it can go either way. I tried both ways but I end up with two different values. Which one is which?

Neither.

%error = [delta/accepted value]*100
delta = your value - accepted value

Oh yeah. I was trying to remember it but I just couldn't get it straight. Thanks!

(your value/accepted value )* 100

The formula for percent error is indeed the first one you mentioned:

%error = (your value / accepted value) * 100

Before we dive into which value goes where, let's understand the concept behind percent error. Percent error is a way to quantify the difference between an experimental or estimated value and a known or accepted value. It allows us to determine how accurate our measurement or estimation is compared to the accepted value.

Now, when using the formula, it is important to keep in mind that the order of the values will affect the sign of the percent error. Here's how it works:

1. If your value is smaller than the accepted value, using the formula as %error = (your value / accepted value) * 100 will yield a negative percent error. This negative sign indicates an underestimate.

2. If your value is larger than the accepted value, the formula as %error = (your value / accepted value) * 100 will give you a positive percent error. This positive sign indicates an overestimate.

To summarize:

- If your value is smaller, resulting in a negative percent error, it means you've underestimated the accepted value.

- If your value is larger, resulting in a positive percent error, it means you've overestimated the accepted value.

In essence, the formula remains the same; the difference lies in the interpretation of the result based on whether it is positive or negative.