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. D

    A Estimation error from estimation quantile of normal distribution

    Hi guys, For my (master) project I am trying to find the probability that a random variable, which is normally distributed, exceeds a quantile that is estimated by a limited number of observations. See attached for my attempt. - Is it correct? - How to incorporate the fact that the mean and...
  2. Z

    JavaScript ReferenceError and Syntax Error on migrate command to Truffle

    Hi, I am following the description provided on the web page:https://truffleframework.com/tutorials/debugger-variable-inspection I am trying to execute the “migrate” command on the truffle. It says Reference Error and also gives syntax error: Instead of Fibonacci folder, I am using Fibonacci2...
  3. P

    I GPS relativity error - really?

    There are many popscience articles about relativity and how relativity is essential for GPS and in many is mentioned something like this: If GPS wasnt corrected for time dilation predicted by GRT, there would be an error of 12 kilometers in GPS positioning per day. But when I checked how GPS...
  4. Stephen Lanford

    Possible error sources in thermal conductivity experiment?

    Hello, my name is Stephen Lanford and I am currently working on a Physics II lab. I am solving for the thermal conductivity of four materials (glass, plexiglass, pine, and sheetrock) using data from thermal conductivity experiments. The experiments consist of a steam chamber at 100 C, a block...
  5. Cardinalmont

    B Greatest Possible Uncertainty and Sig Figs

    There is something I seriously don't understand about uncertainty. Suppose there is an electric balance that reads 5.67g The limit of reading is 0.01g The greatest possible error is half of the limit of reading and is thus 0.005g By this logic, and assuming the very best possible situation, I...
  6. R

    Error bar calculation (statistics)

    Homework Statement For a project, I am trying to estimate the absorption curve of a certain plant species. Due to the variability within the species, I have taken the average of several measurements. In the figure below, the blue curves represent 3 separate measurements, and the red curve is...
  7. Jozefina Gramatikova

    Fractional uncertainty of g on the surface of the Sun

    Homework Statement Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution it looks like I got too big numbers for the uncertainty
  8. L

    Fortran Modifying a library not to stop at runtime errors

    Hello everyone, I'm trying to solve a BVP that seems to be very sensitive, for which I have to provide a starting guess and hope the program can fix it to find a solution. The program has been tested many times and it is very solid, the only problem should be that I can't find the right guess...
  9. D

    [Error] too few arguments to function

    So I'm writing some code for a project and I'm stuck on the first part. This code is obviously unfinished, but I tried testing it just to see how it was coming along and I kept getting the [Error] too few arguments to function 'output_short_format'. As far as I can tell, I'm passing three...
  10. J

    Error in Mathematical Methods for Physicist by Arfken, et al

    Mathematical Methods for Physicist: A Comprehensice Guide (Seventh Edition) by George Brown Arfken, Hans Jürgen Weber, Frank E. Harris I am studying it. Up to now I read to page 35 and have found 3 errors. Chapter 1 Mathematical Preliminaries 1.1 Infinite Series More Sensitive Tests Equation...
  11. Z

    Java .xlsx Excel files in Java: Sheet & Workbook error

    Hi, I am trying to access Excel Sheet .xlsx files in Java. I have tried various options available from internet. My program is using following jar files: poi-ooxml-3.5-beta4.jar, openxml4j-1.0-beta.jar I have done following imports: import java.io.*; import java.io.File; //import...
  12. HaNguyen

    Windows 10 full disk error 100%?

    I'm using Windows 10 sometimes it is 100% full disk error, does anyone know how to fix it?
  13. A

    Harmonic Frequency of a String

    Homework Statement A string (m = 1 kg) fixed at both ends is vibrating in its second harmonic mode. If the length of the string is 2 m and it feels 50 N of tension, which of the following is NOT a possible harmonic frequency for this string? a) 1.25 Hz b) 2.5 Hz c) 5 Hz d) 10 Hz e) 20 Hz...
  14. Mason Smith

    Why are the last two digits of the mass of an electron in parentheses?

    According to Wikipedia, the mass of an electron is 0.510 998 9461(31) MeV/c2. Why are the last two digits of this number in parenthesis? Is this the same thing as saying (0.510 998 9461 ± 0.000 000 0031) MeV/c2.
  15. Vital

    I T-distribution, standard error - how to interpret

    Hello. Math is not my strongest part, yet, so I will be very grateful for your help and for giving the answer in sort of "plain" English, meaning that it will be great if you don't go too deep into the rabbit hole using difficult terminology, as these distribution issues are truly difficult for...
  16. LukasMont

    Solving the Spring Paradox: Uncovering the Error

    Good evening. The problem states: Spring paradox. What is wrong with the following argument? Consider a mass m held at rest at y = 0, the end of an unstretched spring hanging vertically. The mass is now attached to the spring, which will be stretched because of the gravitational force mg on the...
  17. X

    Possible Error in Vladimir Arnold Mathematical Methods C

    I'm reviewing differential forms again and I believe there is an error in Vladimir Arnold's Mathematical Methods of Classical Mechanics. On page 176 of the hardcover edition of it, in chapter 7, on the section of differential forms, problem 4 he says that dr^2(r^2=x^2+y^2) acting on the 2nd...
  18. S

    Fortran FORTRAN 77 IO Error: Troubleshooting with FORCE 2.0

    I have a FORTRAN code that is producing no error upon compilation but when I run it, the run aborts with following message "open: illegal unit number apparent state: unit 72 <unnamed> last format: list io lately writing direct formatted external IO This application has requested the Runtime to...
  19. P

    I Autocorrelation Error Interpretation

    Hello, I have a question on Autocorrelation of OLS model. So I encountered a autocorrelation error, and use Cochrane - Orcutt Two-step Procedure(CORC) to fix it. And my OLS became GLS. And I have no idea how to interpret the coefficient on my initial X and Y with the new model. I mean something...
  20. AdrianMachin

    Ambiguity in finding errors using natural logarithm method

    Homework Statement [/B] I was reviewing this stuff and although I excelled at it once, I seem to forget some of it. For example, please consider this: Homework Equations R_C=\frac {R_1R_2} {R_1+R_2} + R_3 Here's the correct formula for its error: \Delta R_C=\frac {R_1R_2} {R_1+R_2} \left[...
  21. A

    Calculating Measurement Error for a Digital Lux Meter

    Homework Statement For my lab report I am asked to calculate the error of a couple of measurements which I did with a lux meter. I know that the lux meter has tolerance(or accuracy?) 5%. The instrument is digital and it's last digit is 0.1. The maximum reading is 47.5 lux. Homework Equations ...
  22. alexmahone

    MHB Could there be an error in the proof of the Poincare conjecture?

    When Grisha Perelman submitted his proof of the Poincare conjecture, he may have been reasonably sure that it contained no mistakes. But he could not have been 100% sure as he is, after all, human. Each time it was checked, say by the referee of an academic journal, the probability that it...
  23. N

    A How to calculate the probability of error in an AWGN channel?

    Hello, I found a paper on the calculation of probabilities of error. However, I didn't know how to plot the graph using equation 3 and 4. These are the list of equations: And this is the graph: I hope that anyone in this forum may guide me to plot this graph. Thank you.
  24. Derek P

    I Heisenberg Uncertainty vs Measurement Error

    Spun off from https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/is-quantum-physics-retro-deterministic.945431/#post-5984157. @Gerinski said: if we measure a particle's position at time X (not caring about its momentum) and we measure it again at a later time Y and we find it at some other position (again...
  25. Elvis 123456789

    Possible error in Marion and Thornton's Classical Dynamics?

    Homework Statement so I was going over my notes on classical mechanics and just started to review rotation matrices which is the first topic the book starts with. On page 3, I've uploaded the page here The rotation matrix associated with 1.2a and 1.2b is \begin{pmatrix} \cos\theta &...
  26. Doctor_G

    I Propagation of Error when Taking the Average of Averages

    This is an issue I've seen asked and answered before on this forum some years ago. However, the answer doesn't quite make sense to me, so I want to see if I can get either a more satisfactory answer or a better explanation of the original. Suppose that I have some cells that produce a...
  27. H

    [Poisson Stats] Error on half-life for radioactive decay

    Hi there, not sure whether this is in the right section but: I've made two runs of a radioactive decay experiment where I've got a log(N) vs. time plots. From this I've got the decay constants and hence the half-life. I've averaged these two half-lives ( = 160 secs) and now I'm trying to work...
  28. BMR

    Mechanical Advantage vs. Lever vs. Human Error

    This is my first post here, so pardon if forum guidelines/criteria require this to be designated elsewhere. I am designing a clamp mechanism utilizing lever mechanics, and I am getting conflicting info regarding Mechanical Advantage and the Law of 1st Class Levers. Regarding MA, knowing that...
  29. M

    Solving 2D FEM Error with Maxwell Version 17

    Hi, I am working on Maxwell version 17. I have a simple motor to analysis 2D FEM. However, when I analyze the model, I see this error. "Maxwell2d solver, process solver2d error: Internal Solver Error: 'Transient solver handles only isotropic conductivity!'. (7:07:10 PM Apr 16, 2018)" I am...
  30. J

    I Identifying & Accounting for Systematic Error in Scales with 1mg Capacity

    Hi everyone, I have a scale that should weight as low as 1mg, if there was a systematic error how could I identify it and include it in my calculations?
  31. M

    MHB Convergence of Alternating Series and Estimation of Absolute Error

    Hey! :o I want to determine the value of $n\in \mathbb{N}$ such that the absolute error $$\left |\sum_{k=0}^{\infty}\frac{(-1)^k}{(2k+1)\cdot k!}-\sum_{k=0}^{n}\frac{(-1)^k}{(2k+1)\cdot k!}\right | =\left |\sum_{k=n+1}^{\infty}\frac{(-1)^k}{(2k+1)\cdot k!}\right |$$ is less than $10^{-6}$. Do I...
  32. D

    Web Scraping Py Script Generates Error for Old Norse Chars

    I have posted the Python code up front. See my question/inquiry below it. from urllib.request import urlopen from bs4 import BeautifulSoup import csv html = urlopen("https://lrc.la.utexas.edu/eieol_master_gloss/latol/1") bsObj = BeautifulSoup(html) nameList = bsObj.findAll("strong") with...
  33. L

    MCNP Why does it say F5 tally is not in any cell?

    Sorry for two questions in a row, this one we have been stumped on for the entire day We're getting "fatal error. detector no. 1 of tally 5 is not in any cell.", What could be causing this? In the manual and all examples we've seen, nobody has parameters specifying cell location for the...
  34. M

    I Error of a measurements taken with a multimeter

    Hi, normally when we take a measure with a multimer we consider the error given by this type of tables: http://www.transcat.com/media/pdf/mete35xp.pdf Do you know how these errors are calculated?
  35. C

    MHB Local Error: Euler/Crank-Nicholson

    Hi All, For the attached question, I think that substituting theta = 0, I get the Euler method back. If I substitute theta = 1/2, I get the Crank-Nicholson (Modified Euler) method back. In terms of accuracy, I know this means that Crank-Nicholson is the more accurate method. I am mostly...
  36. Const@ntine

    Engineering Building a Circuit in SPICE -- Why am I getting this error?

    Homework Statement I've got the following Circuit: And I have to make it in Spice. 2. The attempt at a solution So far I've got: Circuit Of Ex1 *Circuit Topology V1 1 0 dc 10 R1 1 2 4.7k R2 2 0 4.7k V2 2 0 ac 5 *Types Of Analysis .dc lin 500 100 10k *Output Statements .probe *Termination...
  37. wirefree

    I Euler, De Moivre and a printing error

    to all members of the forum. In the attached image is equation numbered 3.23 which, by the application of Euler’s Identity - called De Moivre Theorem one line below - leads to equation 3.24. Above is an a textbook frought with errors - printing ones. I would be highly appreciative of a...
  38. avner yakov

    A Error estimation in linear regression

    I have a data set of 11 predictors and one response for 1000 observation and i want to do linear regression. I also have measurements errors of the predictors (also 11X1000 matrix) and i need to count for them in the total error estimation. how can i do that?
  39. P

    MHB Restricting Values in Desmos error (for a complicated parametric point).

    Hello. I have graphed a rose curve on Desmos using a parametric point, the equation looking like this: However, I want the graph to be limited so that only values within the circle r=3.45 and r=9 are shown. I have tried using the curly brackets {3.45 <= r <= 9}, however this returns an error...
  40. M

    Sources of Error in a Speed of Sound Experiment

    Homework Statement Determine sources of error which could have affected the results. Some background information: The lab consisted of playing a tone generated by a tone generator above a standing open-closed tube which had water in it. The first harmonic was measured through a computer system...
  41. W

    Numerical/Analytical Solution to a Complex Integral

    Homework Statement I have the following integral I wish to solve (preferably analytically): $$ I(x,t) = \int_{-\infty}^{0} \exp{[-(\sigma^2 + i\frac{t}{2})p^2 + (2\sigma ^2 p_a + ix)p]} \ dp$$ where ##x## ranges from ##-\infty## to ##\infty## and ##t## from ##0## to ##\infty##. ##\sigma##...
  42. W

    Complex Integral to error function

    Homework Statement I have an integral $$\int_{-\infty}^{0} e^{-(jp - c)^2} \ dp$$ where j and c are complex, which I'd like to write in terms of ## \text{erf}## I'd like to know what would happen to the integral limits as I make the change of variables ##t = jp - c##. 1) As ##p## tends...
  43. SuchBants

    Uncertainty in the intersection of two lines with error bars

    The only thing I wish to take from this graph is the intersect of the two lines of best fit. How can I get the uncertainty in this point? While the points appear to have the same uncertainties, they actually each have their own distinct % uncertainty. Would the maximum uncertainty in the X...
  44. A

    Uncertainty/error of a volume is greater than the normal volume

    Homework Statement I have an empty cylinder with an external diameter of (23.0 ± 0.5) mm, an internal diameter of (22.5 ± 0.5) mm and a height of (60.0 ± 0.5) mm. I need to calculate its volume with its uncertainty/error. Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution I do it like this...
  45. MermaidWonders

    MHB Integral Calculus - Spot the Error

    The big blue circle has been put there by my math prof to denote the location of the error in the following solution. Why is this an error? I'm lost. :(
  46. R

    Error calculation for µ in standing wave experiment

    Homework Statement I experimented with standing waves on an oscillating string, and I was asked to calculate the absolute error of µ (linear mass per unit length). I don't know how to calculate it, so please help me. I loaded 100g, 200g and 300g on the string. Below are tabulated data of the...
  47. NihalRi

    Error propagation when dividing by exact number

    Homework Statement Some Background - We are calculating the amount of acetylsalicylic acid in a sample using spectrophotometry. We were told to make sure to include the error in our answer. So first to calculate the moles of acetylsalicylic acid in a measured mass. 0.1620 ± 0.0005g measured...
  48. B

    How to find the relative error in the voltage reading

    Homework Statement For a circuit with 3 resistors in series (R1=1.00 kOhms, R2=2.50 kOhms, R3= 4.00 kOhms and Va=12.0 V). A voltmeter was placed across R2 and R3. Calculate the relative error in the voltage reading if the internal resistance of the voltmeter was a) 5000 ohms, b) 50 kOhms, C)...
  49. B

    I Cathode-ray tube: Error in a book?

    Hello. I was studying magnetism with the 9th edition of the Serway book and I think that I've found a mistake. In the cathode ray tube example (one of the uploaded pictures) it is said that the force acting on a electron goes downward, but using both right hand rules that they provide in the...
  50. S

    Help me find my error in a relativistic kinetic energy calculation

    Hi everyone. Given: an asteroid with the mass of 50,000,000 kg, which is moving with the velocity of oh-my-god particle -- 99.99999999999999999999951% of c. Due to relativistic effects, its total kinetic energy will be 1.44 E+36 Joules (Lorentz factor = 3.2 E+11). A hypothetical particle...
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