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Propagation of Errors-Basic Rules: See Chapter 3 in Taylor, An Introduction To
Propagation of Errors-Basic Rules: See Chapter 3 in Taylor, An Introduction To
Rules
10/5/01 1
3. If z = f (x) for some function f (), then
δz = |f 0(x)|δx.
z = x×y
log z = log x + log y
p
δ log z = (δ log x)2 + (δ log y)2
sµ ¶ µ ¶2
2
δz δx δy
= +
z x y
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where we used
δX
δ log X = ,
X
the calculus formula for the derivative of the
logarithm.
10/5/01 3
Quick Check 3.4
Problem: To find the volume of a certain
cube, you measure its side as 2.00 ± 0.02 cm.
Convert this uncertainty to a percent and then
find the volume with its uncertainty.
δV = 3s2 δs = 0.24,
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Quick Check 3.8
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Quick Check 3.9
x = 200 ± 2, y = 50 ± 2, z = 40 ± 2,
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General Formula for Error
Propagation
q = f (x1, . . . , xn).
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If
q = x1 + x2,
we recover rule 1:
∂q
= 1,
∂x1
∂q
= 1,
∂x2
q
δq = δx21 + δx22
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If
q = x1 × x2,
we recover rule 2:
∂q
= x2,
∂x1
∂q
= x1,
∂x2
q
δq = x22 δx21 + x21 δx22
v " #
u µ ¶2 µ ¶2
u δx δx
= tq 2
1 2
+
x1 x2
sµ ¶2 µ ¶2
δq δx1 δx2
= +
q x1 x2
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Problem 3.47
10/5/01 11
Solution: The partial derivatives are
∂a (M + m) − (M − m)
= g
∂M (M + m)2
2mg
= 2
,
(M + m)
∂a −(M + m) − (M − m)
= g
∂m (M + m)2
2M g
= −
(M + m)2
so we have
2g p
δa = m 2δM 2 + M 2δm2.
(M + m)2
9.8 × 50
a= = 3.27 m/s2
150
10/5/01 12
and
2 × 9.8 p 2 2 = 0.097
δa = 50 + 100
1502
so our answer is
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Problem 3.49
Solution:
∂f q(p + q) − pq q2
= 2
= 2
,
∂p (p + q) (p + q)
∂f p(p + q) − pq p2
= 2
= 2
.
∂q (p + q) (p + q)
Therefore
p
q 4δp2 + p4δq 2
δf = 2
.
(p + q)
10/5/01 15
(b) The uncertainty in 1/p is δp/p2, and
the uncertainty in 1/q is δq/q 2. The
uncertainty in
1 1
+
p q
is sµ ¶2 µ ¶2
δp δq
+ ,
p2 q2
which is a relative uncertainty of
sµ ¶2 µ ¶2
1 δp δq
1 1 + .
p + q
p2 q2
10/5/01 17
Problem 3.50
x = 10 ± 2, y = 7 ± 1, θ = 40 ± 3◦
δq 2 = (0.732 × 2)2
+(0.963 × 1)2
+(9.813 × 3 × π/180)2
= 3.3.
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Alternate Solution
1 y cos 4θ − 2
=1+ .
q x+2
∆4 = |1/q − 1| × ∆3 = 0.15,
δq = q 2 × ∆4 = 2.
10/5/01 21