19/9/2017 Accuracy and Precision: Definition, Examples

Statistics How To
Statistics for the rest of us!

HOME TABLES PROBABILITY AND STATISTICS CALCULATORS STATISTICS BLOG CALCULUS MATRICES EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

PRACTICALLY CHEATING STATISTICS HANDBOOK

Me gusta A 5 personas les gusta esto. Registrarte para ver qu les gusta a tus
amigos.

Accuracy and Precision: Definition, Examples Find an article

Design of Experiments > Accuracy and Precision
Search
You can never make exact measurements in an experiment (even the atomic clock isnt exact: it loses a second
every 15 billion years). How far away from the mark you are is described by accuracy and how well you measure is
described by precision.

Accuracy
ESCNER 3D
PORTTIL DE NIVEL PROFESIONAL
MS
SENCILLO RPIDO SEGURO INFORMACIN

Accuracy is how close you are to the true value. For example, lets say you know your true height is exactly 59.

You measure yourself with a yardstick and get 50. Your measurement is not accurate. Feel like "cheating" at Statistics? Check out the grade-
You measure yourself again with a laser yardstick and get 59. Your measurement is accurate. increasing book that's recommended reading at top
universities!
Note: The true value is sometimes called the theoretical value.

Precision

Book your NH hotel

BOOK NOW
before October 9th

Precision is how close two or more measurements are to each other. If you consistently measure your height as 50
with a yardstick, your measurements are precise.

http://www.statisticshowto.com/accuracy-and-precision/ 1/3
19/9/2017 Accuracy and Precision: Definition, Examples

Accuracy and Precision Together

If you are precise, that doesnt necessarily mean you are accurate. However, if you are consistently accurate, you are
also precise.

Privacy policy.

More Precise
If you want to tell which set of data is more precise, measure the range (the difference between the highest and
lowest scores). For example, lets say you had the following two sets of data:

Sample A: 32.56, 32.55, 32.48, 32.49, 32.48.

Sample B: 15.38, 15.37, 15.36, 15.33, 15.32.

Subtract the lowest data point from the highest:

Sample A: 32.56 32.48 = .08.

Sample B: 15.38 15.32 = .06.

Sample B has the lowest range (.06) and so is the more precise.

More Examples
Accurate and precise: If a weather thermometer reads 75oF outside and it really is 75oF, the thermometer is
accurate. If the thermometer consistently registers the exact temperature for several days in a row, the
thermometer is also precise.
Precise, but not accurate: A refrigerator thermometer is read ten times and registers degrees Celsius as: 39.1,
39.4, 39.1, 39.2, 39.1, 39.2, 39.1, 39.1, 39.4, and 39.1. However, the real temperature inside the refrigerator is
37 degrees C. The thermometer isnt accurate (its almost two degrees off the true value), but as the numbers
are all close to 39.2, it is precise.

If you prefer an online interactive environment to learn R and statistics, this free R Tutorial by Datacamp is a great
way to get started. If youre are somewhat comfortable with R and are interested in going deeper into Statistics, try
this Statistics with R track.

Accuracy and Precision: De nition, Examples was last modi ed: September 11th, 2017 by Andale

By Andale | November 8, 2016 | Statistics How To | No Comments |

Percent Error & Percent Difference: De nition & Examples Location Bias: De nition, Examples

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required elds are marked *

Comment

http://www.statisticshowto.com/accuracy-and-precision/ 2/3
19/9/2017 Accuracy and Precision: Definition, Examples

Name *

Email *

Website

Post Comment

Copyright 2017 Statistics How To Theme by: Theme Horse Powered by: WordPress

http://www.statisticshowto.com/accuracy-and-precision/ 3/3