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Precision measurements are those which are repeatable - so all measurements are clustered around the same value. An accurate measurement is where you are close to the true value.

A measurement can be precise but not accurate. If you have a piece of string which is 75cm long. You measure it and come up with values of 60cm, 60.5cm and 59.5cm - your measurements are precise but not accurate.

See also 'The Story of Measurement' by Andrew Robinson. Published by Thames and Hudson (2007)

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12y ago
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11y ago

Precision is defined as how close measurements are to each other. Example: 4.3, 4.4, 4.4 are precise because they are close to each other. If the "correct" answer is 4.4, they are also accurate. If the "correct" answer is 4.0, they are not very accurate, but they are still precise.

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11y ago

There is a considerable difference as to the meanings of and the difference between the terms accuracy and precision. In scientific investigation, they are assigned distinctly different meanings which must be quite separate. The accuracy of an experiment is a measure of how close the result of the experiment comes to the true value. Therefore, it is a measure of the correctness of the result. The precision of an experiment is a measure of how exactly the result is determined, without reference to what the result means. It is also a measure of how reproducible the result is.

It is obvious that we must consider about the accuracy and the precision simultaneously for any means of experiment. It would be a waste of time and energy to determine a result with a higher precision if we knew the result would be highly highly inaccurate. Conversely, a result can not be considered to be accurate if the precision is low. To understand this concept in a better manner, the analogy of a marksman who throws darts using a device at a target can be used.

In this analogy, the device is the instrument, the marksman is the operator of the instrument, and the results are determined by the locations of darts in the target. The size of the hole produced by darts give the resolution of the instrument.

If he throws the darts to the same place, but far away from the bulls-eye, he has a good precision, but not accuracy.

If he throws the darts around the bulls-eye, but not to the same place, he has a good accuracy, but not precision.

If he throws the darts to the same place, and almost on the bulls-eye, he has a good precision, as well as accuracy.

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9y ago

Accuracy in chemistry is incredibly important. Accuracy in chemistry can be measured in exact measurements and careful planning for example.

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13y ago

In term of Science : Accuracy is how close a numerical measure is to its actual value.

In term of mathematics : the number of significant figures given in a number

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Q: What does accuracy and precision mean?
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How are accuracy and precision alike?

"Precision" is high when you get the SAME answer every time. Accuracy is high, when you get the CORRECT answer. You can hit a target in the same place everytime which is very HIGH precision; however, if that place is not the "Bulls Eye", your accuracy is lousy.


Which is better precision or accuracy of the experimental specifc heats detemined for your metal sample?

Accuracy because it tells us how close our value is to the accepted/expected value rather than precision that only describes reproducibilty and closeness of results to One another.


Compare accuracy and precision?

It is best to think of this in terms of a shooting target, when the bullet hits close to the bulls-eye, this is accuracy. In other words it is how close your result is to what it is supposed to be. Precision is about the grouping, if you fir 5 shots and one hits the bulls-eye, then on hits far above it, one below it, one to the left, and one to the right, they are not close and therefore your precision is off. However even if you hit as far from the bulls-eye as possible, but all five bullets hit in the same area, then this is precision. In other words if all of your results of your experiment always turn out about the same, it is precise.


How are accuracy and precision used when communicating design ideas?

Its used to help keep objects as close or precise as possible. Helps others to understand you measurements.


What are the benefits of using automated techniques for manufacturing electric circuits?

I high degree of precision, accuracy and speed as well as reduced waste due to manufacturing errors.

Related questions

Does the speedometer have poor precision or poor accuracy?

Accuracy and precision mean the exactly the same thing in this context.


Define accuracy and precision?

Accuracy and precision are synonyms. They both mean without error, they are exactly right, No more and no less.


What does precision mean in scientific term?

Accuracy is how close you are to your expected value and precision is how close together your experimental values are.


Do precision and accuracy mean the same thing in science?

Precision and accuracy do not mean the same thing in science. Precision refers to how well experimental data and values agree with each other in multiple tests. Accuracy refers to the correctness of a single measurement. It is determined by comparing the measurement against the true or accepted value.


Does standard deviation give a measure of accuracy or precision?

precision


What is accuracy and precision and the difference between them?

The term accuracy describes how far your observation/measurement is from the correct result. Precision describes how repeatable your results are, regardless of their accuracy..


What is the difference between the accuracy of measurements and the precision of measurements?

Precision is how close your measurements are. Accuracy is how close your measurements are to the actual measurement.


What is precision?

Precision is a writer's attention to accuracy in world choice.


How do you spell to be exact?

Words that mean "exact" include "precise" and "accurate." The corresponding nouns are precision and accuracy.


Are precision and accuracy the same?

No because precision is when you trie to put your efeert toit


Is accuracy or precision related to standard error?

Standard error is a measure of precision.


What is the definition of precision?

precision is a writers attention to accuracy in word choice. (apex)