Re: uncertainty

[brian whatcott <inet@intellisys.net>]

At 13:32 3/5/98 -0400, Ludwik  wrote:

> > > What exactly do you want the program to calculate? Just standard 
> > > deviation of the mean or errors in linear fit parameters?
> ....................................................................
> > None of the above. I want it to carry through error propagation 
> > calculations. Simple example: If length = 3.0 +/- 0.2 m and 
> > width = 5.0 +/- 0.2 m then area = 15 +/- 1 m^2
> ..................................................................
> In practical terms, nothing beats numerical simulations. Use a program,
> such as True Basic, to simulate measurements (with imposed random errors)
> and calculate what you want from such data.


This is a most interesting proposal. It supposes that measurements of
 linear dimensions vary randomly across some range.
 Would it not be reasonable to suppose that the probable value of
a measured length is more centrally disposed?

Whatcott  Altus OK