Accuracy and precision-
source: mathsis fun.com
Accuracy and precision-
Accuracy-
Accuracy means the closeness of an experimental value or the mean value of a set of measurements to the true value. It is a measure of the difference between the mean value & true value. Accuracy expresses the correctness of measurement.
Accuracy = mean value – true value
“Smaller is the difference between mean & true value, greater is the accuracy.”
Precision –
Precision means how closely two or more measurements of the same quantity agree with one another. It is expressed as the difference between measured value & mean value. Precision gives the extent of agreement of the measured values among themselves.
Precision = measured value – mean value
“Smaller is the difference between the measured value of repeated measurements of the same quantity, greater is the precision.”
” An accurate measurement is always precise, but a precise measurement need not be accurate.”
Example-
measurement 1, measurement 2, average
Student ‘X’- 1.95 g 1.93 g 1.94 g
Student ‘Y’ – 1.94 g 2.05 g 1.995 g
Student ‘Z’- 2.01 g 1.99 g 2.00 g
If the true value for the result is 2.00 g,
student ‘X’ takes two measurements & report the results as these are 1.95 g & 1.93 g. These values are precise because these are close to each other but are not accurate ( because not close to the true value)
student ‘Y’ takes two measurements & report the results as these are 1.94 g & 2.05 g. These values are neither precise nor accurate because these are not close to each other & true value.
student ‘Z’ takes two measurements & report the results as these are 2.01 g & 1.99 g. These values are both precise & accurate because these are close to each other & also close to the true value.