Data errors, Absolute and Relative and their Applications

In any scientific, engineering, or statistical analysis, understanding and managing data errors
is crucial. Errors can arise from various sources, including measurement limitations, data
entry mistakes, and environmental factors. This lecture will cover the concepts of data
errors, focusing on absolute and relative errors, and explore their applications in different
fields.

1. Understanding Data Errors

Types of Data Errors

1. Systematic Errors: These are consistent and repeatable errors associated with faulty
equipment or biased techniques. They can often be identified and corrected.
2. Random Errors: These are unpredictable variations that arise from unknown or
uncontrollable factors. They affect the precision of measurements.
3. Blunders: These are mistakes made by users, such as data entry errors, and can often
be identified and corrected through careful data review.

Importance of Data Errors

Understanding and quantifying errors is vital for:

• Ensuring the reliability of data.

• Improving measurement techniques.
• Making informed decisions based on data analysis.

2. Absolute Errors

Definition

Absolute error is the difference between the measured value and the true value of a quantity.
It provides a measure of how much the measured value deviates from the actual value.
 𝐴𝑏𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑒 𝐸𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟 =∣ 𝑀𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑉𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒 − 𝑇𝑟𝑢𝑒 𝑉𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒 ∣

Example

If the true value of a length is 100 cm and the measured value is 98 cm, the absolute error is:

Absolute Error=∣98 cm−100 cm∣=2 cmAbsolute Error=∣98cm−100cm∣=2cm

Applications

• Engineering: Ensuring components fit correctly within specified tolerances.

• Science: Quantifying the precision of experimental measurements.
• Manufacturing: Maintaining quality control by monitoring production processes.

3. Relative Errors

Definition

Relative error is the ratio of the absolute error to the true value, often expressed as a
percentage. It provides a measure of the error's significance relative to the size of the true
value.

𝑅𝑒𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝐸𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟 = 𝐴𝑏𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑒 𝐸𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟𝑇𝑟𝑢𝑒 𝑉𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒 × 100%

Relative error is a measure of the uncertainty of measurement compared to the size of the
measurement. It's used to put error into perspective. For example, an error of 1 cm would be
a lot if the total length is 15 cm, but insignificant if the length was 5 km. Relative error is also
known as relative uncertainty or approximation error.

Reasons for Relative Error

Relative error compares a measurement to an exact value. The two reasons for this error are:
 1. Using an approximation instead of real data (e.g., 22/7 or 3.14 instead of pi or
rounding 2/3 to 0.67)
2. Imprecise measurement due to instrumentation (e.g., a ruler measuring to the nearest
millimeter)

Example

Using the previous example, with an absolute error of 2 cm and a true value of 100 cm:

𝑅𝑒𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝐸𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟 = 2 𝑐𝑚100 𝑐𝑚 × 100% = 2%

Applications

• Finance: Assessing the accuracy of financial forecasts and investment returns.

• Quality Control: Evaluating the precision of products in comparison to their
specifications.
• Health Sciences: Determining the accuracy of medical tests and diagnostic tools.

4. Real-Life Examples of Absolute and Relative Measure of Error

Understanding absolute and relative measures of error is crucial for various real-world
applications. Here are some practical examples to illustrate these concepts:

1. Medical Testing

• Absolute Error: In a medical test for glucose levels, suppose the true glucose level is
90 mg/dL. If the test result shows 92 mg/dL, the absolute error is:

𝐴𝑏𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑒 𝐸𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟 =∣ 92 − 90 ∣= 2 𝑚𝑔/𝑑𝐿

• Relative Error: Using the same example, the relative error would be:

𝑅𝑒𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝐸𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟 = 290 × 100% = 2.22%

This indicates that the measurement is off by 2.22% from the true value.
2. Manufacturing and Quality Control

• Absolute Error: In a factory producing bolts with a target length of 5 cm, if a bolt is
measured to be 5.1 cm, the absolute error is:

𝐴𝑏𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑒 𝐸𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟 =∣ 5.1 − 5 ∣= 0.1 𝑐𝑚

• Relative Error: The relative error for the bolt length would be:

𝑅𝑒𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝐸𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟 = 0.15 × 100% = 2%

This relative error helps in assessing how significant the deviation is compared to the
target length.

3. GPS and Navigation Systems

• Absolute Error: A GPS device indicates a location that is actually 50 meters away
from the true position. The absolute error is:

𝐴𝑏𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑒 𝐸𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟 = 50 𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠

• Relative Error: If the expected accuracy for the GPS device is within 10 kilometers
(10,000 meters), the relative error is:

𝑅𝑒𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝐸𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟 = 5010000 × 100% = 0.5%

This small relative error shows that the device is quite accurate within its expected
range.

4. Finance and Investment

• Absolute Error: An investment portfolio is projected to yield $10,000, but the actual
yield is $9,800. The absolute error is:

𝐴𝑏𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑒 𝐸𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟 =∣ 9800 − 10000 ∣= 200 𝑑𝑜𝑙𝑙𝑎𝑟𝑠

 Relative Error: The relative error for the investment yield would be:

𝑅𝑒𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝐸𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟 = 20010000 × 100% = 2%

This helps investors understand the error magnitude relative to the expected return.

5. Physics and Engineering

• Absolute Error: In measuring the length of a metal rod, the true length is 150 cm, but
the measurement is 149.8 cm. The absolute error is:

𝐴𝑏𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑒 𝐸𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟 =∣ 149.8 − 150 ∣= 0.2 𝑐𝑚

Relative Error: The relative error for the length measurement would be:

𝑅𝑒𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝐸𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟 = 0.2150 × 100% = 0.13%

This small relative error indicates a very precise measurement.

6. Climate Science

• Absolute Error: A weather station predicts 30 mm of rainfall, but the actual rainfall
is 28 mm. The absolute error is:

𝐴𝑏𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑒 𝐸𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟 =∣ 28 − 30 ∣= 2 𝑚𝑚

• Relative Error: The relative error for the rainfall prediction would be:

𝑅𝑒𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝐸𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟 = 230 × 100% = 6.67%

This relative error helps meteorologists assess the accuracy of their forecasts.