How to Calculate Percent Error

Description: Most quantitative labs (labs involving numerical measurements) have a student calculate his or her percent error. That is, what percent they are off of the correct answer. Generally, under 5% is considered well-done in most lab activities. This video shows several examples of calculating percent error.

Content Area: Physical Science/Chemistry

Instructional Objective: After viewing this video, a student will be able to correctly calculate the percent error by which he/she is off of the correct answer.

Learner Description: This video is targeted at middle school or high school physical science and chemistry students, although at a general level, college students taking an introductory lab science could also benefit from viewing.

[katrebello]

I LOVE YOU WITH A PASSION. haha i got an A on my final lab in chem because of this video. thanks so much!

[Kristendelores]

Test tomorrow and I was absent when we learned about this. Thanks a lot:)

[Kristendelores]

@TheN3094 I know this is REALLY late but absolute value brackets are these | ( number) |. So lets say you get this | -10 | That really means 10 because it is ten numbers from the 0. The same is for positive numbers. But basically the numbers are always the same but positive (even if they were negative before.)

[VelocirapTOR]

how do you find the experimental value on a scatter plot graph?? I have to measure the melting point of this substance (Sodium acetate trihydrate) so what do I do?

[TheN]

what do you mean by within absolute value brackets?
cuz i got a negative. :(

[CcanCcaglar]

please reply asap,
in the chem mark schemes, they ALWAYS multiply the %error by 2, why is this?!!!

[FLSHTX]

@sonasri19 becaue you will never get a negative value sais of the vid