Properties of Numerical

techniques
Mr.Kannan Natarajan, M.Tech.,
Lecturer, MIT, Manipal-576104.
E-mail: kannan.ns2101@gmail.com
Mobile: +91-9008418513.
 Properties of numerical methods
• Convergence– exact solution within the limits.
• Accuracy– within the tolerable error limits.
• Efficiency – amt of time required to solve.
• Consistency – measure of accuracy.

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Manipal.
 Accuracy and Precision
• Accuracy refers to how closely a computed or measured
value agrees with the true value, while precision refers to
how closely individual computed or measured values
agree with each other.
a) inaccurate and imprecise
b) accurate and imprecise
c) inaccurate and precise
d) accurate and precise

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Manipal.
 Error Definitions
• Absolute error (|Et|): the absolute difference
between the true value and the
approximation.
• True relative error: the true error divided by
the true value.

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Manipal.
 Roundoff Errors
• Roundoff errors arise because digital
computers cannot represent some quantities
exactly.
• Two major facets of roundoff errors involved
in numerical calculations:
– Digital computers have size and precision limits
on their ability to represent numbers.
– Certain numerical manipulations are highly
sensitive to roundoff errors.
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Manipal.
 Truncation Errors
• Truncation errors are those that result from
using an approximation in place of an exact
mathematical procedure.

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Manipal.
 Total Numerical Error
• The total numerical error is the summation of the
truncation and roundoff errors.
• The truncation error generally increases as the step
size increases, while the roundoff error decreases
as the step size increases - this leads to a point of
diminishing returns for step size.

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Manipal.
 Other Errors
• Blunders - errors caused by malfunctions of
the computer or human imperfection.
• Model errors - errors resulting from
incomplete mathematical models.
• Data uncertainty - errors resulting from the
accuracy and/or precision of the data.

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A Simple Mathematical Model
 A Simple Mathematical Model
• A mathematical model can be broadly
defined as a formulation or equation that
expresses the essential features of a
physical system or process in mathematical
terms.
• Models can be represented by a functional
relationship between dependent variables,
independent variables, parameters, and
forcing functions.
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 Model Function
Dependent independent forcing 
 f  , parameters, 
variable  variables functions
•Dependent variable - a characteristic that usually
reflects the behavior or state of the system

•Independent variables - dimensions, such as time and
space, along which the system’s behavior is being
determined
•Parameters - constants reflective of the system’s
properties or composition
•Forcing functions - external influences acting upon the
system
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Manipal.
 Model Function - Example
• Assuming a bungee jumper is in mid-
flight, an analytical model for the jumper’s
velocity, accounting for drag, is

gm  gc 
vt  tanh d
t 
cd  m 
• Dependent variable - velocity v
• Independent variables - time t
•Parameters - mass m, drag coefficient cd
• Forcing function - gravitational
acceleration g
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 Model Results
• Using a computer (or a calculator), the model can be used
to generate a graphical representation of the system.

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 Numerical Results
• The efficiency and accuracy of numerical methods
will depend upon how the method is applied.

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 Bases for Numerical Models
• Conservation laws provide the foundation for many
model functions.
• Different fields of engineering and science apply
these laws to different paradigms within the field.
• Among these laws are:
– Conservation of mass
– Conservation of momentum
– Conservation of charge
– Conservation of energy

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Manipal.
• Still we were
discussing about
problem definition and
mathematical models

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Manipal.