Laoag City, Ilocos Norte
Module 2
ERRORS AND MISTAKES
Engage
Error is the difference between a measured quantity and its true value of a quantity. Errors are inherent
in all measurements and result from sources which cannot be avoided.
Mistakes are inaccuracies in measurements which occur because some aspect of a measuring operation
is performed with carelessness, inattention, poor judgement, and improper execution.
Types of errors:
1. Systematic errors. This type of error is one which will always have the same sign and magnitude as
long as field conditions remain constant and unchanged. It conforms to a mathematical and physical
laws. Such errors can be eliminated by applying corrections, employing proper techniques in the use
of instruments, or by adopting a field procedure which will automatically eliminate it.
2Accidental Errors. – these error are purely accidental in character. It caused by factors beyond the
control of the observer and are present in all measurement.
Sources or errors.
1. Instrumental errors – are due to imperfections of the instrument used either from fault in their
construction or improper adjustments between the different parts prior to their use.
2. Natural errors – These errors are caused by variations in the phenomenon of nature such as changes
in magnetic declination, temperature, humidity, wind, refraction, gravity, and curvature of the earth.
3. Personal Errors. These errors arise principally from limitations of the senses of sight, touch and
hearing of the human observer which are likely to be erroneous or inaccurate.
Accuracy and Precision.
Accuracy – indicates how close a given measurement is to the absolute or true value of the quantity
measured. It implies the closeness between related measurements and their expectations.
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Laoag City, Ilocos Norte
Precision – refers to the degree of refinement and consistency with which any physical measurement
is made. It is portrayed by the closeness of one another of a set of repeated measurements.
Most probable value – is the arithmetic mean or average.
Residual – deviation – difference between any measured value of a quantity and its most probable
value.
Probable error – is a quantity which, when added to and subtracted from the most probable value,
defines a range within which there is a 50 percent chance that the true value of the measured quantity
lies inside (or outside) the limit of the set.
Probable Error of the mean of a single observation, 𝑃𝐸𝑠
∑(𝑥 − 𝑥 ̅)2
𝑃𝐸𝑠 = ±0.6745√ = ±0.6745(𝑆𝐷)
𝑛−1
Probable Error of the mean, 𝑃𝐸𝑚
∑(𝑥 − 𝑥̅ )2 𝑆𝐷
𝑃𝐸𝑚 = ±0.6745√ = ±0.6745
𝑛(𝑛 − 1) √𝑛
Relative Precision (Error), RP is expressed by the fraction having the magnitude of the error in the
numerator and the magnitude of a measured quantity in the denominator.
Weighted observations
- Weight is inversely proportional to the square of the probable errors
INTERRELATIONSHIP OF ERRORS.
1. Summation of errors
Probable error of the sun, 𝑃𝐸𝑠𝑢𝑚 = ±√𝑃𝐸1 2 + 𝑃𝐸2 2 + 𝑃𝐸3 2 + ⋯ + 𝑃𝐸𝑛 2
BSCE 211 L/L: FUNDAMENTALS OF SURVEYING
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Laoag City, Ilocos Norte
Product of error, 𝑃𝐸𝑝 = ±√(𝑄1 𝑥𝑃𝐸2 )2 + (𝑄2 𝑥𝑃𝐸1 )2
Where 𝑄1 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑄2 are measured quantities
ELABORATE
Examples are:
A distance was measured six (6) times and the observed distances are: 342.6, 342.8, 342.1,
342.3, 342.5, and 342.7 m.
1. Compute the most probable value of the measurement.
∑𝑥 2055.0
Most Probable value, 𝑥̅ = = = 342.5
𝑛 6
2. Compute the standard deviation, SD, of the measurement.
∑(𝑥−𝑥 ̅)2
𝑆𝐷 = ±√ = ±0.068
𝑛−1
3. Compute the probable error of a single observation.
𝑃𝐸𝑠 = ±0.6745(𝑆𝐷) = ±0.6745(0.068) = ±0.0459 or 4.59%
4. Compute the probable error of the mean.
𝑆𝐷 0.068 𝑃𝐸𝑠
𝑃𝐸𝑚 = ±0.6745 ( 𝑛) = ±0.6745 ( )= = ±0.0187 or 1.87%
√ √6 √6
EXPLAIN
sITUATION 1. The distance measured six (6) times has a most probable value or mean of 342.5 m
and standard deviation of ±0.068 𝑚. The probable error of a single observation is ±0.0458 𝑚 and
the probable error of the mean of ±0.0187 𝑚. Therefore the measurement should be expressed as
342.5 ± 0.0187. Which means that there is a 50% chance that the true distance measured falls
between 342.4013 m to342.5187 m
0.0187 1 1 1
The relative presicion 𝑅𝑃 = = 342.5/0.0187 = 18316 ≅ 18300
342.5
Take note that relative precission is expressed in fraction not in decimal number.
BSCE 211 L/L: FUNDAMENTALS OF SURVEYING
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Laoag City, Ilocos Norte
sITUATION 1. Six measurement of a distance were recorded as: 85.16, 85.56, 85.67, 85.87, 85.25,
and 85.36 meters with given weights of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. Compute the weighted mean, standard
deviation, probable error of a single measurement, probable error of the mean, and relative precision.
Measured length, 𝑥(m) Weight, 𝑤 𝑥(𝑤)
85.16 1 85.16
85.56 2 171.12
85.67 3 257.01
85.87 4 343.48
85.25 5 426.25
85.36 6 512.16
342.15 21 1795.18
∑ 𝑓(𝑤𝑥) 1795.18
𝑥̅ = = = 85.485 𝑚
∑𝑤 21
∑ 𝑓(𝑥−𝑥̅ )2 1.18232381
𝑆𝐷 = √ ∑ 𝑓−1
=√ = 0.243
21−1
𝑃𝐸𝑠 = ±0.6745(0.243) = 0.164 𝑜𝑟 16.4%
0.243
𝑃𝐸𝑚 = ±0.6745 = 0.0358 𝑜𝑟 3.58%
√21
1 1
𝑅𝑃 = 85.485/0.0358 = 2390
EVALUATE
Answer the following problems. 𝐴𝑙𝑙𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 = 1 ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑟:
1. How do you minimize random error in measurement?
2. How do you minimize systematic error in measurement?
3. In weighted measurement, how do you determine the weight of each measurement?
4. How do you eliminate error in measurement?
5. A measurement were made in a distance XY and the observed measurement are as follows:
197.80, 197.65, 197.54, 197.48, 197.75, and 197.38 meters. Determine the relative precision
of the measurement.
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Laoag City, Ilocos Norte
6. If the assigned weight in each of the measurement in problem number 5 are respectively: 4,
3, 2, 5, 4, and 6, how does its relative precision defer from the relative precision of problem
number 5.
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