# PERCENTAGE ERROR — EXPLAINED WITH 8 EXAMPLES

Error is the difference between a measured value and the actual value.

Percentage error is the ratio of the measured value to the actual value. Mathematically, it is represented as:

$P.E=\frac{Error}{actual value}\times100$

Using this fact, let's solve the following examples.

#### Example 1

A pen is 18cm long, Daniel estimated its length to be 20cm. Find the percentage error in the conclusion

Solution:

$Error=20-18=2$

$P.E=\frac{2}{18}\times100$

$P.E=11.1\%$

#### Example 2

Instead of recording the 1.23cn of the radius of a tube, a student recorded 1.32cm. Find the percentage error correct to one decimal.

Solution:

$Error=1.32-1.23=0.09$

$P.E=\frac{0.09}{1.23}\times100$

$P.E=7.3\%$

#### Example 3

While doing his physics practical, Samuel recorded a reading of 1.12cm instead of 1.21cm. Calculate his percentage error?

Solution:

$Error=1.21-1.12=0.09$

$P.E=\frac{0.09}{1.21}\times100$

$P.E=7.44\%$

#### Example 4

Mrs Daniel sold a book for €7.5 instead of €12.75. Calculate his percentage error correct to one decimal place.

Solution:

$Error=12.75-7.5=5.25$

$P.E=\frac{5.25}{12.75}\times100$

$P.E=41.2\%$

#### Example 5

A bricklayer measured the length of a walk and obtained 4.1cm. If the actual length of the walk is 4.25cm, Calculate his percentage error.

Solution:

$P.E=\frac{4.25-4.1}{4.25}\times100=3.53\%$

#### Example 6

A stick of length 1.75m was measured by a boy as 1.8cm. Find the percentage error in his measurement

Solution:

$P.E=\frac{0.05}{1.75}\times100=2.9\%$

#### Example 7

James estimated his transport fare as €190 instead of €200. Find the percentage error?

Solution:

$P.E=\frac{200-190}{200}\times100=\frac{10}{200}\times100=5\%$

#### Example 8

Rather than subtract 15 from a certain number, I mistakenly added 25 and got 145. Find the percentage error

Solution:

The actual error is 40 because 25 which should otherwise not be added, was added and 15, which was supposed to be subtracted, was not subtracted.

The actual number is 105 because if we remove subtract 25 added, and remove 15 that is supposed to be subtracted.

$\frac{40}{105}×100=38.1\%$

Help us grow our readership by sharing this post