How to calculate percent error

Forum to talk about all the latest technologies - ins and outs!!
Post Reply
Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 325
Joined: Tue Sep 25, 2007 12:41 pm

How to calculate percent error

Post by Admin »

Let us say, you want to calculate the percent error of your measurements (the height of the tree next to your window or anything else).

You measured the height to 23.6 m whereas the original height is 25 m. So what’s your percent error?

Formula for percent error = (measured value – real value)/real value * 100

So let’s calculate your percent error:

(23.6 – 25)/25 * 100 = - 5.6%

A ‘-‘ sign means that your measured value is lower than the true value.

If you would have measured the height to 26.7 m whereas the real value stands the same to 25 m, then your percent error is

(26.7 – 25)/25 * 100 = 6.8%

A positive value means that your measurement is higher than the true value.

You did a lot of calculation. Now relax :) .
Post Reply