1. What is Percent Error?

Percent error is a measure of how inaccurate a measurement is, compared to the true or accepted value. It's expressed as a percentage and represents the difference between experimental and theoretical values relative to the theoretical value.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the percent error formula:

Where:

• Experimental Value — The measured or observed value
• Theoretical Value — The true, expected, or accepted value

Explanation: The absolute value ensures the error is always positive, and multiplying by 100 converts it to a percentage.

3. Importance of Percent Error Calculation

Details: Percent error is crucial in scientific experiments and quality control to assess the accuracy of measurements. It helps identify systematic errors and evaluate the reliability of experimental methods.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter both experimental and theoretical values. The theoretical value cannot be zero (division by zero is undefined). Values can be positive or negative.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is a good percent error?
A: This depends on the field. In many scientific experiments, <5% is considered acceptable, but stricter fields may require <1%.

Q2: Why use absolute value in the formula?
A: The absolute value ensures the error is always expressed as a positive number, focusing on the magnitude rather than direction of the error.

Q3: How is percent error different from percent difference?
A: Percent error compares to a known value, while percent difference compares two experimental values without a reference standard.

Q4: Can percent error be greater than 100%?
A: Yes, when the experimental value is more than double the theoretical value in either direction.

Q5: What does 0% error mean?
A: It means the experimental value exactly matches the theoretical value, indicating perfect accuracy.