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Re: [Phys-l] quadratic uncertainty



On 8/25/2010 10:30 PM, Stefan Jeglinski wrote:
We need to find a good value for x
/and for the uncertainty associated with x/
given that:
a x^2 + b x + c = 0 [1]

So ... any takers?
Just one question for starters - is there intentionally no
uncertainty quoted for the RHS of the quadratic equation? That is,
does the spirit of the question intend to assume that the 0 is exact,
or not? Perhaps this question is not relevant, but I'd like to work
the "correct" intended problem.


Stefan Jeglinski

Taking the view that the zero balance is set by the value of the c variable at least,
and supposing that the variability in the unknown is small compared with its mean, then the uncertainty is controlled by the b multipier.
Or is it?

Brian W