Accuracy vs Precision

"Accuracy" and "precision" have different mathematical meanings. The difference between accurate and precise data is explained using kittens and mittens

[silvereaglexi]

The "Where's Wally" bit was a very good way of explaining it in my opinion.

[Oldschool_Gamer_]

Precisely, you should use it accurately.

[vaughanvalentine]

Precision vs Accuracy vs Significance (in numerical terms)

Precision = How many decimal places you've got
Accuracy = How many of them are right
Significance = How many of them matter

[gswcooper]

Thank you! Was this a very accurate way of describing these terms, or a very precise way?

[rich]

Meanwhile, in quantum physics. precision is measured in how accurately you can measure your uncertainty.

[AdeonWriter]

In shooting games, precision is how much the bullet is shot away from where you tried to click. Accuracy is how well you aim.

[subh]

precise = confident
accurate = correct

So you can have any of the following combinations:

confidently correct
confidently incorrect
non-confidently correct
non-confidently incorrect

[pierQRzt]

"Parker" Precison leads to "Parker" things.

[TheReaverOfDarkness]

Sometimes a Vulcan says "Precisely." when it would be more appropriate to say "Accurately."

[NoriMori]

This reminds me of the distinction between validity and reliability (in statistics), or between validity and soundness (in formal logic). In statistics, a measure can be _invalid_ because its results don't correspond with reality, but _reliable_ because it produces similar results under consistent conditions. In formal logic, an argument can be _valid_ because its conclusion necessarily follows from its premises, but _unsound_ because its premises are false. In both cases, these concepts boil down to the distinction between internal and external consistency.

(Interestingly, in statistics "validity" refers to external consistency, while in logic it refers to internal consistency.)

[brandonlynn]

I always use pi to differiciate between the two. Even though 3.14 and 3.141593 are both accurate the latter is more precise

[SomeRandomFellow]

where's wally? in the uk is it not waldo?

[LotharG]

dude no spoilers. now that picture is ruined

[HoSza]

what if you have only one mitten? is that precise? is that accurate? neither? both?

[AviMehra]

I love matts. Math Parker is awesome

#standupmatts
+standupmatts

[IceMetalPunk]

Precise = very close together. Accurate = correct. You can have values close together but not correct, or you can have values that average correctly but are far apart.

[floridmonkey]

Interesting, I was at a special exhibit in the science museum in Brisbane on Measurements. and they had a target demonstrating this.

[brod]

in simple terms precise is when all your data is together but not in the right place while acurate is when average result of your data is in the right place

[lucascoleman]

isn't the question: Where is Waldo?

[wojtasek]

Are we precise when we use these words accurately?