Percent Error Calculator

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This Percent Error Calculator (% error calculator) will calculate the percentage error between an experimental measured value and a theoretical actual value.

Percentage Error Formula

\( \text{Percentage Error} = \dfrac{| E-T |}{| T |}\times100 \)

Where E is the experimental value and T is the theoretical value. This formula is similar to percentage change.

For example, how to calculate the percentage error:

Suppose you did an experiment to measure the boiling point of water and your results average to 101.5°C. This is your experimental (measured) value. We know that the actual boiling point of water is 100°C, so this is your theoretical (actual) value. What is the % error between E = 101.5°C and T = 100°C?

Plug numbers into our percentage error formula

\( \dfrac{| E-T |}{| T |}\times100 \)

\( = \dfrac{(101.5 - 100)}{|100|} \times 100 \)

\( = \dfrac{1.5}{100} \times 100 \)

\( = 0.015 \times 100 \)

\( = 1.5\% \; \)

\( = 1.5\% \; \text{error} \)

Cite this content, page or calculator as:

Furey, Edward "Percent Error Calculator"; from https://www.calculatorsoup.com - Online Calculator Resource.

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