UIC Physics Department Physics 141 Appendix 1

Summary of Error Analysis and Rules for Error Propagation.

∑
Average mean 〈𝑥〉 1

∑ 〈 〉
Standard deviation 𝜎 2

Standard error 𝛼〈 〉 4
√

| |
𝑃𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝐸𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟 100% 5

| |
𝑃𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝐷𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 | |/
100% 6

Summary of Rules for Propagation of Uncertainty

Mathematical Operation Expression Propagation of Errors

Multiplication by a
𝑓 𝑥 𝐴𝑥 𝐵 𝜎 𝐴𝜎
constant

Division by a constant
Reciprocal of a quantity
𝑥 𝜎
𝑓 𝑥 𝜎
𝐴 𝐴
𝐴 𝐴𝜎
𝑓 𝑥 𝜎
𝑥 𝑥

Addition or Subtraction 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦 𝑥 𝑦 𝜎 𝜎 𝜎

𝜎 𝜎
Multiplication 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦 𝑥𝑦 𝜎 𝑓
𝑥 𝑦

𝑥 𝜎 𝜎
Division 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦 𝜎 𝑓
𝑦 𝑥 𝑦

𝜎
Power 𝑓 𝑥 𝑥 𝜎 𝑓|𝑛|
𝑥

 
Summary of Error Analysis and Rules for Error Propagation                          Page 1 of 2 
 
UIC Physics Department Physics 141 Appendix 1

Max-Min Method for Best-fit Line

1. Draw the axes and plot all points using uncertainty bars like that shown
in Figure a .
2. Draw a line of best fit through about two thirds of the uncertainty bars
with an approximately equal scatter of points on either side of the line
Figure b
3. Draw two “worst” lines, steepest Figure c , colored in red and
shallowest Figure c , colored in blue of best fit through about two
thirds of the uncertainty bars. Half the difference between the minimum,
𝑚 , and maximum, 𝑚 , slopes is a good estimate of the slope
uncertainty. So, calculate the uncertainty in the gradient using

𝜎 15

Therefore, the slope value is 𝑚 𝜎 Figure A2

4. The slopes, 𝑚 and 𝑚 give two other intercepts, 𝑏 and 𝑏

Figure c . Then, the uncertainty in the intercept, 𝜎 , can be calculated
as

𝜎 16

Therefore, the intercept value is 𝑏 𝜎

Error Analysis with Excel

1. The LINEST function is an array-type function, meaning it will output more than one number. Start, by
highlighting a 2-by-3 section of empty cells (two columns, three rows).
2. With these six cells highlighted, in the input box at the top of the screen type = LINEST () and add the
proper arguments. The arguments should be the list of y-values, the list of x-values, TRUE, and TRUE.

For example, = LINEST(y(1):y(N), x(1):x(N), TRUE, TRUE).

3. Press CONTROL+SHIFT+ENTER. Note that on a Mac, this is CMD+SHIFT+ENTER.
Your results should have filled in that 2-by-3 section in the following way:
Slope (m) Y Intercept (b)
Error of Slope (𝜎 Error of Intercept (𝜎
R2 Error in Y (𝜎
With a set of data points, the error for a linear fit can be found following these equations:

𝑦 𝑚𝑥 𝑏 (fit function)

where x and y are the data points and N is the number of data points.

 
Summary of Error Analysis and Rules for Error Propagation                          Page 2 of 2