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percentage error
[percentage error|percentage error] The percentage error is the relative error expressed as a percentage.
Definition
percentage error The percentage error is the relative error expressed as a percentage. It measures the discrepancy between the measured value and the true value of a measurement.
Mechanism
percentage error To calculate percentage error, use the relative error formula with the differential approximation. Example 4.11 shows an astronaut measuring Earth's radius with an 80 mi error, demonstrating the method.
Examples
Example 4.11 measures Earth's radius as 4000 mi with +80 mi error, illustrating percentage error in relative measurements.