A typical situation would be when there is a zero error.
For example, almost all rulers have a little distance before the zero-mark. Suppose you measure the length of some object repeatedly using the end of the rules rather than the zero-mark. If, otherwise you are very careful to read off the result (for example, perpendicularly so that there is no parallax) you could end up with several measures which are exactly - or very nearly - the same. That is precision. But every one of those measures will be wrong - by the length before the zero-mark on the ruler. And that is the inaccuracy.
A group of precise measurements are a group of repetitive measurements that are very close together. Ie the standard deviation between the measurements is small. Not to be confused with a accurate measurement! Think about it like this, if you measure a piece of wood 5 times and each time you get an identical answer then the measurement are said to be precise. If however if turns out that despite measuring the length 5 times and getting the same answer you discover that the length is significantly off from the "true" answer, then you were inaccurate!
Data can be precise but inaccurate because precision refers to the level of detail and consistency in measurements, while accuracy relates to how close those measurements are to the true value. It is possible for precise data points to be consistently incorrect, leading to inaccuracies despite the level of precision.
The precision of a measurement can be determined by looking at the number of decimal places in the measurement. The more decimal places, the more precise the measurement. Additionally, if a measuring tool is capable of measuring smaller increments, it can provide a more precise measurement.
the precision of the least precise measuement
Precision is repeatability - hitting the same spot, or nearly, every time - but it need not be the spot you are aiming at. Accuracy getting the right spot - when all your hits, taken together average out to the spot you are aiming at. When target shooting, you can be accurate, but imprecise. Then you hit all over the target area but the spread is centered on the bull's eye. You can be inaccurate and imprecise. Then you hit all over the target area but the spread is NOT centered on the bull's eye. You can also be inaccurate but precise. Then your hits are closely grouped but nowhere near the bull's eye. And you can be accurate and precise. Then your hits are closely grouped in the bull's eye.
Yes it is possible. 21.354 inches is very precise but could be inaccurate.
No. Accurate relates to how close the actual measurement the instrument measures. Precise relates to how much detail the instrument gives when measuring. They are independent to each other: An measurement can be precise and accurate (eg the value of π is 3.141592654) An measurement can be precise and inaccurate (eg the value of π is 1.733677432) An measurement can be less precise and accurate (eg the value of π is 3.14) An measurement can be less precise and inaccurate (eg the value of π is 1.73).
Yes, a measurement can be precise without being accurate. Precision refers to how close repeated measurements are to each other, while accuracy refers to how close a measurement is to the true value. It is possible for measurements to be consistently close to each other (precise) but consistently off from the true value (inaccurate).
That is the correct spelling of "inaccurate" (not correct, or not precise).
What determines how precise a measurement is
Definition of Precision: Referring to how close a group of measurements are to each other. Accuracy: Refers to how close the measurement is to the true or accepted value. If the volume of the water was 20 L and I measured it wrong one and got 19, measured it again and got 19, and then measured it a third time and got 19, that would be a PRECISE measurement, since you got the same result three times in a row. It's INACCURATE because it isn't the CORRECT measurement. Hope that helped!
It is precise if it is repeatable.
A group of precise measurements are a group of repetitive measurements that are very close together. Ie the standard deviation between the measurements is small. Not to be confused with a accurate measurement! Think about it like this, if you measure a piece of wood 5 times and each time you get an identical answer then the measurement are said to be precise. If however if turns out that despite measuring the length 5 times and getting the same answer you discover that the length is significantly off from the "true" answer, then you were inaccurate!
vague, careless, inaccurate
The measurement 25.81 is precise to the nearest hundredth.
Significant figures indicate the precision of a measurement, representing the certainty of the digits recorded. The more significant figures a number has, the more precise it is, as it reflects a finer level of detail in the measurement. Accuracy, on the other hand, refers to how close a measured value is to the true value. While significant figures convey precision, they do not guarantee accuracy; a precise measurement can still be inaccurate if systematic errors are present.
measuring tape