Sunday, August 25, 2013

Accuracy vs. Precision


In class this unit, we covered the topic of accuracy vs. precision. Accuracy is defined as the closeness of a value to the actual, accepted value. Precision is defined as how repeatable the value of a certain result is. The picture below depicts a scale, which to serve its function has to be both accurate and precise. A scale is accurate because it tells you your exact weight. A scale is also precise, because if you were to weigh yourself multiple times in a row, each measurement should be the same. This certain scale is both accurate and precise. I know this because I know that it is showing my exact weight, and after weighing myself three times, the value stayed the same.