Principal Formulas in Part | Notation (Chapter 2) (Measured value of x) = Xjeq + 8x, (p. 13) where Xue = best estimate for x, x = uncertainty or error in the measurement, : : bx Fractional uncertainty = (p. 28) Peal Propagation of Uncertainties (Chapter 3) If various quantities x,..., w are measured with small uncertainties dr, . and the measured values are used to calculate some quantity q, then the uncertainties in x,..., w cause an uncertainty in q as follows: If q is the sum and difference, g = x + «+ z — (w+ + + w), then = N60 H+ (BaP + (Bu? FF GHP i for independent random errors; = ot ee oe always. (p. 60) ; com g 2 EXE Iq is the product and quotient, ¢ = 7-——————, then = VES EG BY for independent random errors; le ll | ae we hl always, (p. 61) If q = Bx, where B is known exactly, then 8q = |Bl ax. (p. 54) If q is a function of one variable, q(x), then 4 ay = |S x. (p. 65) If q is a power, q = x", then og (p. 66)If q is any function of several variables x,..., z, then q = (p. 75) (for independent random errors). Statistical Definitions (Chapter 4) If x,,..., xy denote N separate measurements of one quantity x, then we define: 1& ne x; = mean; (p. 98) o = (p. 100) o; = (p. 102) The Normal Distribution (Chapter 5) For any limiting distribution f(x) for measurement of a continuous variable x: f(x) dx = probability that any one measurement will give an answer between x and x + dx; (p. 128) » f(x) dx = probability that any one measurement will = give an answer between x = a and x = b; (p. 128) x) dx = 1 is the normalization condition. P. (x) de = Lis the i iti (p. 128) The Gauss or normal distribution is (p. 133) where X = center of distribution = true value of x = mean after many measurements, width of distribution = standard deviation after many measurements. The probability of a measurement within 1 standard deviations of X is ©? dz = normal error integral; (p. 136) Prob(within to) = = von in particular Prob(within 10) = 68%.AN INTRODUCTION TO Error Analysis THE STUDY OF UNCERTAINTIES IN PHYSICAL MEASUREMENTS SECOND EDITION John R. Taylor PROFESSOR OF PHYSICS UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO. oe University Science Books Sausalito, California