Chapter 1 - Errors

Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HCMUT), VNU-HCM
CHAPTER 1
ERRORS
Dr. Le Thanh Long
ltlong@hcmut.edu.vn
Department of Machine Design - Faculty of Mechanical Engineering

Outline
1.1. Error definitions.
1.2. Types of errors.
1.3. Approximation rule.

Velocity = ?
49 or 48 OR 48.9
km/h ???

1.1 ERROR DEFINITIONS

All the measures taken from experiments or studies in
real world are not exact, which causes deviations
(errors) on the results that we obtain from the solution.
Example 1.1: A man ordered

3 50mm-long cylindrical
metal rods. When measuring
products, he noticed that
their actual length was 50,
50.1, 49.9 mm


- Accuracy refers to how closely
a computed or measured value
agrees with the true value.
- Precision refers to how closely

individual computed or measured
values agree with each other.
 Numerical methods should be (a)Inaccurate and imprecise

sufficiently accurate or unbiased (b)Accurate and imprecise
to meet the requirements of a (c) Inaccurate and precise
particular engineering problem. (d)Accurate and precise


Here, we will use the collective term error to represent
both the inaccuracy and the imprecision of our predictions.
Numerical errors arise from the use of approximations to

represent exact mathematical operations and quantities.
These include truncation errors and round-off errors.

TAKE SOME
EXAMPLES
OF ERRORS

1.2 TYPES OF ERRORS

1. True error
True error Et is defined as the difference between the
true (exact) value and real value.
True value = real value + error
 Et  A  a *
where: A: True value

a*: Real value (absolutely exact)

1.2 TYPES OF ERRORS

2. Absolute error
In fact, we don't know the exact value A. So we
estimate a positive quantity Ea, as small as possible.
Ea is the value that limits the deviation of the real
value from the true value.
A  a  Ea
(a: approximate value)
All values have a smaller deviation than absolute error Ea

1.2 TYPES OF ERRORS

3. Relative error
A true error doesn't signify how important an error is.
For instance, a 0.1pound error is a very small error
when measuring a person's weight, but the same
error can be disastrous when measuring the dosage
of a medicine. Relative error εt – the absolute error as
a percentage of the true value:
= 100%;
10

1.2 TYPES OF ERRORS

Example 1.2: Suppose that you have the task of
measuring the lengths of a bridge and a rivet come up with
9999 and 9 cm, respectively. If the true values are 10,000
and 10 cm, respectively, compute (a) the true error and (b)
the true percent relative error for each case.
Solution:
(a) The error for measuring the bridge and rivet are:
Et1  10, 000  9999  1 cm
Et 2  10  9  1 cm
(b) The true percent relative error for the bridge and rivet are:
1 1
 t1  100%  0.01%  t 2  100%  10%
10, 000 10 11

1.2 TYPES OF ERRORS

4. Approximate error
The approximate error Ea* is defined as the difference
between the current approximate value and the previous
approximation (i.e. the change between the iterations).
Ea*  a  a *
where a is the current approximate value
a* is the previous approximation
E a*
a  100%
ac
εa designates the approximation percent relative error.
112

1.2 TYPES OF ERRORS

5. Function’s error
Function f(x1,x2,…xn) has n varieties with partial errors are
∆x1, ∆x2, ∆x3…. ∆xn.
n
f
f   .xk
k 1 xk
Example 1.3: Given the function f(x,y,z) = 5x2 + 4y + z. Please

determine the error of f(1,2,3).
f x  (5 x 2  4 y  z ) 'x .x  10 x .x
f y  (5 x 2  4 y  z ) ' y .y  4.y
f z  (5 x 2  4 y  z ) 'z .z  1.z
 f  10 x .x  4y  z
The error of f(1,2,3)  f (1, 2,3)  10x  4y  z 13

Problem 1. In a robot factory, QC staff is responsible for

checking the dimensions of finished products. The model
A001 has the height of 80±0.2mm as show below
This QC staff measured a package of 5 samples, the results were:
No. 1 2 3 4 5
Result 80.01 80.12 79.99 79.92 80.21
Approximate
80±0.2 mm
80.00 80.10 80.00 79.90 80.20
Calculate all types of errors learned above, A

package contains at least 1 defective products is
Model A001
considered as unqualified. Whether this package
is qualified or not?
14

Solution:
No. 1 2 3 4 5
Result 80.01 80.12 79.99 79.92 80.21
Approximate 80.00 80.10 80.00 79.90 80.20
Absolute error 0.01 0.12 0.01 0.08 0.21
Relative error 0.013% 0.150% 0.013% 0.100% 0.263%
Approximate error 0.01 0.02 0.01 0.02 0.01
No.2:
Absolute error: = − = 80.12 − 80 = 0.12
.
Relative error: = = = 0.150%
Approximate error: E ∗ = − ∗ = 80.12 − 80.10 = 0.02
Similarly, we can calculate for other samples.
→ No.5 has absolute error not within tolerance → Unqualified
15

Problem 2. Mr. An used 3 water containers A, B, C:

- A: a cube glass water bottle which dimensions are
12x12x12cm (∆1=0.2cm in all dimensions).
- B: a cylindrical beaker, ∆2=0.1ml
Mr. An filled A fully of water and poured 500ml into B. Then
pour all into C.
How many ml of water will bottle C contain? Error ?
16

Solution:
The volume of water in C is:
,ℎ = + ℎ = 2228
where,
x: edge of the cube
h: volume of water in cylindrical beaker B
The error of the volume is:
∆ = 3 ∆ + ∆ℎ = 3 × 12 × 0.2 + 0.1 = 86.5
The water volume in C:
= 2228 ± 86.5
17

1.3. APPROXIMATION RULE

1. Rounding
If the digit removed is greater than 5 or equal, the previous digit
increases by one. E.g: 8.236 → 8.24
If the digit removed is less than 5, previous digit is not modified.
E.g: 8.231 → 8.23
18


1. Rounding
Given −2.316 ≤ ≤ 1.106 equivalent to ≤ ≤
Rounding rule in inequality:

• a: always rounding down
• b: always rounding up
Result of rounding number to the hundredth digit:

−2.32 ≤ ≤ 1.11
19


2. Reliable figures
Reliable figures of a number are those that can be used with
confidence.
Number a with error ∆a: ∆a ≤ 0.5 x 10-k
From the k digit after the decimal point to the left are reliable figures.
Example: a = 1.023567; with ∆a = 0.0008 ≤ 0.5 x 10-2
The reliable figures are: 1; 0; 2
20


3. Significant figures
All nonzero digits are significant: Zeroes placed between other

1.284 g → 4 significant figures digits are always significant.
1.2 g → 2 significant figures 4009 kg → 4 significant digits
Zeros placed before other digits Zeros placed after other digits
are not significant: but behind a decimal point are
0.046 → 2 significant figures significant
7.90 → 3 significant figures
21

Problem 3.
No. 1 2 3 4
Result 14.0123 0.08143 1648.2 2318
Error 0.013 0.0002 0.1 0.5
a) Rounding to tenth digit.
b) Determine significant figures and reliable figures.
22

Solution:
a)Tenth digit is the first digit to the right of decimal point. Look
one digit to the right. In No.1 case, you’ll find a 1 next to the 0
digit. This number will determine whether you will round the
digit 0 up or down.
b)Ex No.1: 0.013 ≤ 0.5 × 10 ; k = 1. So the reliable figures are

1; 4; 0. And significant figures: six digits (1;4;0;1;2;3)
No. 1 2 3 4
Result 14.0123 0.08143 1648.2 2318
Error 0.013 0.0002 0.1 0.5
Approximate 14.0 0.1 1648.2 2318
Re.figures 1,4,0 0,0,8,1 1,6,4,8 2,3,1,8
Sig.figures Six Four Five Four
(1;4;0;1;2;3) (8;1;4;3) (1;6;4;8;2) (2;3;1;8)
23

Problem 4. Determine and approximate x to the tenth

digit so that the equations are satisfied:
a) = (1.01275 − )( − 3.1752)
b) =
. .
24

Solution:
a) The condition of the meaningful formula is expressed as:
1.01275 ≤ ≤ 3.1752
Result when rounding to inequality:

1.0 ≤ ≤ 3.2
If x = 1, the equation is wrong. So, rounding to inequality
depends on rounding up or down the value that must satisfy
the condition of the meaningful formula.
b) Do it yourself.
25

26

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Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HCMUT), VNU-HCM

Department of Machine Design - Faculty of Mechanical Engineering

Department of Machine Design - Faculty of Mechanical Engineering

Department of Machine Design - Faculty of Mechanical Engineering

1.1 ERROR DEFINITIONS

Example 1.1: A man ordered

Department of Machine Design - Faculty of Mechanical Engineering

1.1 ERROR DEFINITIONS

- Precision refers to how closely

 Numerical methods should be (a)Inaccurate and imprecise

Department of Machine Design - Faculty of Mechanical Engineering

1.1 ERROR DEFINITIONS

Numerical errors arise from the use of approximations to

Department of Machine Design - Faculty of Mechanical Engineering

Department of Machine Design - Faculty of Mechanical Engineering

1.2 TYPES OF ERRORS

where: A: True value

Department of Machine Design - Faculty of Mechanical Engineering

1.2 TYPES OF ERRORS

Department of Machine Design - Faculty of Mechanical Engineering

1.2 TYPES OF ERRORS

Department of Machine Design - Faculty of Mechanical Engineering

1.2 TYPES OF ERRORS

Department of Machine Design - Faculty of Mechanical Engineering

1.2 TYPES OF ERRORS

Department of Machine Design - Faculty of Mechanical Engineering

1.2 TYPES OF ERRORS

Example 1.3: Given the function f(x,y,z) = 5x2 + 4y + z. Please

Department of Machine Design - Faculty of Mechanical Engineering

Problem 1. In a robot factory, QC staff is responsible for

80.00 80.10 80.00 79.90 80.20

Calculate all types of errors learned above, A

Department of Machine Design - Faculty of Mechanical Engineering

Department of Machine Design - Faculty of Mechanical Engineering

Problem 2. Mr. An used 3 water containers A, B, C:

Department of Machine Design - Faculty of Mechanical Engineering

Department of Machine Design - Faculty of Mechanical Engineering

1.3. APPROXIMATION RULE

Department of Machine Design - Faculty of Mechanical Engineering

1.3. APPROXIMATION RULE

Rounding rule in inequality:

Result of rounding number to the hundredth digit:

Department of Machine Design - Faculty of Mechanical Engineering

1.3. APPROXIMATION RULE

Department of Machine Design - Faculty of Mechanical Engineering

1.3. APPROXIMATION RULE

All nonzero digits are significant: Zeroes placed between other

Department of Machine Design - Faculty of Mechanical Engineering

a) Rounding to tenth digit.

b) Determine significant figures and reliable figures.

Department of Machine Design - Faculty of Mechanical Engineering

b)Ex No.1: 0.013 ≤ 0.5 × 10 ; k = 1. So the reliable figures are

Department of Machine Design - Faculty of Mechanical Engineering

Problem 4. Determine and approximate x to the tenth

Department of Machine Design - Faculty of Mechanical Engineering

Result when rounding to inequality:

Department of Machine Design - Faculty of Mechanical Engineering

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