1. What is a Percent Error Calculator with Uncertainty?

Definition: This calculator determines the percentage error in a measurement when the uncertainty is known.

Purpose: It helps scientists, engineers, and researchers quantify the relative error in their measurements.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• Uncertainty — The absolute error or measurement uncertainty
• Measured Value — The observed or experimental value
• Percentage Error — The relative error expressed as a percentage

Explanation: The uncertainty is divided by the measured value to get the relative error, which is then converted to a percentage.

3. Importance of Percentage Error Calculation

Details: Calculating percentage error helps assess measurement reliability, compare results across different scales, and determine experimental accuracy.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the uncertainty (absolute error) and measured value. The measured value must be greater than zero.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's the difference between absolute and percentage error?
A: Absolute error is the raw uncertainty value, while percentage error shows how significant that uncertainty is relative to the measurement.

Q2: Can percentage error be negative?
A: No, percentage error is always positive as it represents the magnitude of error regardless of direction.

Q3: What's considered a good percentage error?
A: This depends on the field, but generally under 5% is good, under 1% is excellent for most applications.

Q4: How do I find the uncertainty value?
A: Uncertainty is typically half of the smallest measurement unit or comes from instrument specifications.

Q5: What if my measured value is zero?
A: Percentage error is undefined when the measured value is zero, as division by zero is impossible.