- #1
ElectroFractal
- 11
- 0
- Homework Statement
- I have come across astrophysical data where the data have asymmetrical uncertainty intervals like this for example: 4.467[SUP]+0.064[/SUP][SUB]-0.096[/SUB]. I cannot realize how to calculate an average of this quantity, and a percent uncertainty.
- Relevant Equations
- I calculated the upper and lower value: 4.467+0.064=4.531 and 4.467-0.096=4.371, and found the average which is 4.451, and it's different from the value 4.467.
My initial guess was to calculate the upper and lower value, and then average those two values, but I don't know whether this is correct to make the uncertainty interval symmetric.
After I calculated the average value, I subtracted it form the upper and lower value, and obtained the symmetric interval: 4.451+-0.08. Thus, the percent uncertainty is:
0.08/4.451 = 1.79%
My question is if this way of thinking is a correct one, and if there are other techniques to obtain my goal?
After I calculated the average value, I subtracted it form the upper and lower value, and obtained the symmetric interval: 4.451+-0.08. Thus, the percent uncertainty is:
0.08/4.451 = 1.79%
My question is if this way of thinking is a correct one, and if there are other techniques to obtain my goal?