What is Error: Definition and 999 Discussions

An error (from the Latin error, meaning "wandering") is an action which is inaccurate or incorrect. In some usages, an error is synonymous with a mistake.
In statistics, "error" refers to the difference between the value which has been computed and the correct value. An error could result in failure or in a deviation from the intended performance or behavior.

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  1. nughii

    Error in trapezoidal integration using a Programming language

    Summary:: I want to iterate a mathematical model using a programming language. The equation of the mathematical model is simple. The following is a brief explanation. I want to iterate a mathematical model using a programming language. The equation of the mathematical model is simple. The...
  2. ORF

    Lab Experiment: Estimate the error in these measurements of Ohm's law

    Hi, I have measured a set of V-I values, and I have to provide the value of the resistance. I have used ac and dc current. The circuit was quite simple: power supply -> ammeter -> resistance -> [power supply] wave generator -> ammeter -> resistance -> [wave generator] Voltage was measured...
  3. G

    DC Motor "TACHO ERROR": Solutions & Causes

    Sirs, Am facing problem in dc drive that is dc tacho fault . I have checked tacho and found values of armature resistance are same in all segments in commutator. But motor speed not in control. It is automatically varying and suddenly stopped. Is there any bypass method available for tacho...
  4. aspodkfpo

    Rotational motion (conceptual error?)

    Very confused at this. https://courses.lumenlearning.com/physics/chapter/10-6-collisions-of-extended-bodies-in-two-dimensions/ "Consider the relatively simple collision shown in Figure 2, in which a disk strikes and adheres to an initially motionless stick nailed at one end to a frictionless...
  5. M

    I Error on a transition frequency

    Hello! I am really new to this field, so I am sorry if my questions is silly or missing some parts. Please correct me if that is so. I am a bit confused about how well we can extract the value of a transition, say from ground to an excited state, of an atom (let's assume we can ignore any other...
  6. J

    I Need clarification on the margin of error in two different cases

    I need this in simple terms. Here's what I think I know so far (assuming 95% confidence level): MOE from a sample proportion is 2√(p(1-p)/n) and I think this is assuming the sample proportion is close to the population proportion. But then there is a sampling distribution of sample proportions...
  7. B

    I Type 1 Error Increases with Sample Size?

    My professor is teaching us that type 1 error increases with sample size if you keep alpha constant, and I think I understand what she's getting at, but I can't find anything online that supports the idea. Here's what I'm thinking: We accept that there is an equal chance that a flipped coin...
  8. S

    X error correction code in ProjectQ Python

    I have been trying write a code in for error correction. I am new to programming and am unable to understand what is not alright. Can anyone please suggest some explanation? from projectq.ops import All, CNOT, H, Measure, Rz, X, Z from projectq import MainEngine from projectq.meta import...
  9. J

    Comp Sci Java - Why no out of bounds error for this array

    I am writing a class called "Course" in Java so that one can input students names, etc. Here is my relevant code for the Course class: public class Course { private String courseName; private String[] students = new String[0]; private int numberOfStudents = 0; public...
  10. archaic

    Finding this power series -- Where is my error?

    I have used ##\sim## but meant ##\sum_{k=0}^\infty## my math homework platform is telling me that this is wrong. I've tried using desmos to test it and it was a perfect match. Any ideas on where I went wrong?
  11. W

    Engineering Derivation of the error due to a finite load attached to a potentiometer

    x = fraction of potentiometer connected to load Vp in parrallel with VL = x/(Rp/RL.x.(1-x) + 1) If RL = infinite, then Ro = x and Vo = x.Vs If RL = finite, then Ro = x/(Rp/RL.x.(1-x) + 1) and Vo = x.Vs/(Rp/RL.x.(1-x) + 1) Therefore error is x.Vs - x.Vs/(Rp/RL.x.(1-x) + 1) Trying to break the...
  12. H

    Finding the Error in Solving a Chin-up Force Problem

    This is a fairly straightforward problem. I'll just post the way that I'd solved it: for some reason I'm getting the wrong answer. $$m\times a_{0} = F - w$$ $$a_{0} = \frac{F}{m} - g$$ $$v_{0} = (\frac{F}{m} - g) \times t$$ $$y_{0} = (\frac{F}{m} - g) \times \frac{t^{2}}{2}$$ This gives us the...
  13. suezxc6

    Comp Sci Need help with Fortran homework -- Error: Invalid form of PROGRAM statement

    program Lab5A implicit none ! This program introduces Fortran string handling capabilities character*26 upper, lower, name, cap character str*2, one*1 integer from, to, i, m lower = "abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz" upper = "ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ"...
  14. L

    MCNP Fatal Error: Troubleshooting Guide

  15. garthenar

    Fixing Error: (vlog-7) Failed to Open Design Unit File

    Homework Statement:: None. This is part of implementing a project and not an actual question. It's a technical problem or equipment failure. Relevant Equations:: The Code I get is; Error: (vlog-7) Failed to open design unit file "Waveform.vwf.vt" in read mode. [Mentor Note -- moved to the...
  16. andacbaba123

    Meter Stick Lab Systematic Error

    Hello everyone! In class, we made a lab. The lab was basically first measuring a mass. Then, we found a meter stick's center of mass by finding the point where the stick was balanced. After that, we hanged the mass and changed the fulcrum point. We balanced it again and the torque equation gave...
  17. S

    How to Catch and Print Assertion Errors in Python

    I would like to make output only read: Traceback (most recent call last): AssertionError ... without giving the File "<input>", line 1, in <module>
  18. opus

    Using the Law of Sines - Getting a Domain Error on my Calculator

    So we'd like to find leg C. But we can't use Law of Cosines yet so we will use Law of Sines. We can easily find the length of A and this is ##\sqrt{13}##. With some geometry we can see that ##\angle a = 53.1##. We can now use Law of sines. $$\frac{\sin(a)}{A} = \frac{\sin(b)}{B}$$ We want to...
  19. T

    Quantum 3-Qubit Error Correction Circuit

    Hello! I have this problem regarding the analysis of an error correction circuit. This problem set has been set for hand-in before the lectures regarding error-correction take place, so I am struggling. With that in mind I have read about the initialisation of the first qubit with two others...
  20. metennisman27

    Troubleshooting PSPICE Errors: Tips for Simulating Your Graph Successfully

    i am trying to simulate this pspice graph. i keep getting these errors. i can not figure out how to fix.. please help
  21. U

    Fortran Fixing Fortran Runtime Error for Beginner

    Hi, I am a beginner of Fortran. Recently I try to use a fortran code for my simulation. But it always shows me the following error when execute the program: At line 18 of the file sous.f (unit =11, file = 'fluid'), fortran runtime error, End of file, Error termination. Backtrace: could not print...
  22. W

    Python 3 Anaconda:Syntax Error on inexistent line#

    Ok, I wrote a small program P, initially of 16 lines in Jupyter Anaconda in Python 3.7 I deleted the last 4 lines, ending up with 12 lines in P2. Now, I run P2 and I'm told there is a syntax error in (the inexistent) line 14. I restarted the kernel, nothing. I opened another notebook, pasted...
  23. chang-ho

    Help with error please: "dump 1 on file" on MCNP

  24. Prabs3257

    Change in the time period of a pendulum

    I tried taking log and then diffrentiate the standard equation for time period of a pendulum but i am not getting the correct answer
  25. M

    MHB Probability of the error of type 2

    Hey! :o We have data of a sample of $100$ people from a population with standard deviation $\sigma=20$. We consider the following test: \begin{align*}H_0 : \ \mu\leq 100 \\ H_1 : \ \mu>100\end{align*} The real mean is $\mu=102$ and the significance level is $\alpha=0.1$. I want to...
  26. V

    Calculate the margin of error in this physics lab

    Bounce 1, Trial 1-4: ha (height after bounce) (0.74+0.67+0.69+0.73)/4=0,7075 this is my mean value. Standard Deviation, s: 0.033040379335998 (calculated the value using an online standard deviation calculator) Sample size N: 4 sx̄ = s/√N = 0.033040379335998/√4≈ 0.0165 At a 95% confidence...
  27. K

    "Unexpected error in file" in MCNP

    Hello, I am getting the following error Unexpected error in file I have gone through the code and noting seems to be amiss. Does anyone have any ideas?
  28. M

    I Scaling covariance for an error calculation

    Hello! I just discovered (maybe a bit late) that most fitting programs (Python lmfit or scipy, for example) have a parameter (by default turned on) that allows a scaling of the covariance matrix for calculating the errors (usually called scale_covar or something similar). After some reading I...
  29. D

    Sig figs/certainty in percent error calculation

    Hello, all. Quick question about how to apply sig figs in percent error problems. Eg. If the actual/target value is 1.95 g and we measure 1.87 g, then should the percent error of our measurement be reported as 4.10% or 4%? Normally, at least abstracting from the problem, after subtracting...
  30. W

    False Error Messages Win10 64-bit

    Hi All, My System seems to be misidentifying problems. I was trying to unzip ('Extract' in Win10 lingo) a .csv file and I received a warning that I did not have permission to open the file. I checked the permission settings and I was not able to change permissions settings. Based in previous...
  31. E

    Small error in calculating the value of g with an Atwood machine

    Hello, I hope you are very well ! I have a physics practical test where I have to find the gravitational acceleration with the Atwood machine: I've found 9.27 m/s² and have to say what could have caused this slight gap. They say that there is no friction in this experiment. I can't really...
  32. B

    Propagation of Error for Sodium Doublet Lines

    The equation we used in this lab was Δλ = (λ^2 / 2Δd) where Δλ is the separation of the sodium D doublet lines and is the value we're trying to calculate, λ^2 is the wavelength of sodium light given in the lab manual (589 nm) and Δd is the distance one of the mirror moves to go from one faint...
  33. K

    Geometry error: no intersection found in mcnp

    Hello All, I have yet another MCNP question. I received the following error "geometry error: no intersection found mcnp" when trying to run a a simulation. I looked at the output and according to it I have an infinite volume in cells 14 and 500. I plotted the geometry and don't see how its...
  34. B

    Propagation of Error for Focal Length

    Homework Statement: Propagation of Error for Focal Length Homework Equations: f = (s'*s) / (s' + s) In my lab, we had to calculate the focal length of a lens based on object distances (s) and image distances (s') that we measured. The object distances were measured with an uncertainty of...
  35. B

    Engineering Simplorer Maxwell simulation error that I'm getting

    Attached is the screen shot of the error
  36. E

    Quick question about the representation of error on a graph

    Hello I hope you are all very well. I did a graph for a physics practical work and I would like to put the "error bar" (I don't know if it's called like this, I'm sorry). Something like this: I just don't know how long the margin should be. If someone could clarify to me the way to do the...
  37. K

    I How Should Systematic Errors Be Estimated When Experiment Results Differ?

    Hello! I am a bit confused about estimating the systematic error (I think it is systematic) from an experiment. Here is a (simplified) description of it. Assume that 2 groups measure the length of a cube with 2 different rulers, which, due to some effects give slightly different results (for...
  38. V

    Linear approximation and percentage error

    I found the linearization, L(x) = -0.0001x+0.2 and I found L(1/99) = 0.0199989899. Then I tried to put that value into my percentage error formula along with 1/99 and got: the absolute value of (1/99)-L(1/99) and then we divide that by our actual value which is 1/99, then I multiply everything...
  39. B

    I How Should I Calculate Error on the Mean with Identical Measurements?

    Hello! I have an experiment and for some reasons I was able to do only 4 measurements and they all ended up having the same value, say for the purpose of this post ##100 \pm 1## where the error of 1 is estimated based on the measuring device resolution. The mean is obviously 100. Usually the...
  40. M

    I Poisson Error Q: Can I Add Errors in Quadrature?

    Hello! I have a fit to a histogram ##y(x)##. Now I want to predict the number of counts at some other point, not in the original data, using this fitted function and assign an error to it. Let's say that the the point where I want to compute this value, ##x_0## gives ##y(x_0) = 100##. As the...
  41. K

    Fatal error entry 2 is not monotonically increasing

    I am trying a different energy spectrum in a code I am writing and get the following error when I try to run the it. 0.61247 0.88454 fatal error entry 2 of si 3 is not monotonically increasing This has me confused because the two values above are monotonically increasing as are the preceding...
  42. B

    Physics Lab Propagation of Error Issue

    Homework Statement: Physics Lab Propagation of Error Issue Homework Equations: ∂f/∂b=∂/∂b (tan^(-1)⁡(a/4b))= 1/(1+(a/4b)^2 )×(-a)/(4b^2 )=1/(1+((5.922 cm)/(4×1.766 cm))^2 )×(-5.922 cm)/(4×(1.766 cm)^2 ) Hello, I'm trying to find the uncertainty in a function from the lab manual for the...
  43. yecko

    Engineering Troubleshooting Heat Exchanger Error Msg

    How should I do to eliminate the error message? In what direction should I approach the question? (I have tried difference combination and sequences of the heat exchanger below pinch, all seems not working) Thanks
  44. K

    I Error on the Mean: How to Compute w/ Individual Error

    Hello! I have some measurements with errors associated with them: ##x_i \pm \delta x_i## and I want to cite the value of the mean with its error. I see online that the error on the mean is defined as ##\sigma/\sqrt N##, where ##\sigma## is the standard deviation of my measurements and ##N## is...
  45. P

    MCNP error zero lattice element hit

    I have been encountering "zero lattice element hit" when I try to run it in MCNP5. The input file is provided below. The square lattice runs fine, but the hexagonal does not. Hope someone can help me here. Thank you.
  46. X

    MCNP error surface 0 not found for cell 101

    Hello, I am working through the MCNP manual and am experiencing the following error as well as warning when trying to run the sample problem from the manual. The fatal error I get is "fatal error. surface 0 not found for cell 1050." I have upload the output file with the errors in case I...
  47. jedishrfu

    The Story behind the Apollo 11 and the 1202 Computer Error Code

  48. F

    I What do "marginalized" or "marginalized error" mean? (contours - posterior)

    I am curently working on Forecast in cosmology and I didn't grasp very well different details. Forecast allows, wiht Fisher's formalism, to compute constraints on cosmological parameters. I have 2 issues of understanding : 1) Here below a table containing all errors estimated on these...
  49. M

    MHB Linear Codes : Error detection

    Hey! :o The code words of a linear code $C$ have the length $n=5$. Writing the code words into a matrix to get the linear independent ones, we get the following: \begin{equation*}\begin{pmatrix}0 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 1 & 1 & 0 & 1 \\ 1 & 0 & 1 & 1 & 1 \\ 1 & 1 & 0 & 1 &...
  50. Wrichik Basu

    I One vertex interactions in QED - error in the book?

    I am studying QFT from the book A First Book of QFT. I am currently in the chapter of QED. The authors have written down the interaction Lagrangian for QED. Thereafter, they have taken a special case of the electron, and written down the normal-ordered interaction Hamiltonian for this case...
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