MathGroup Archive 1995

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Accuracy and Precision

  • To: mathgroup at christensen.cybernetics.net
  • Subject: [mg714] Accuracy and Precision
  • From: Paul E Howland <PEHOWLAND at taz.dra.hmg.gb>
  • Date: Tue, 11 Apr 1995 11:38:03 +0200 (IST)

I'm struggling to get my head around the difference between Accuracy[]
and Precision[], and similarly AccuracyGoal[] and PrecisionGoal[].  I'm 
writing a small optimisation package at the moment, and would like my 
options to be similar to those of FindMinimum[], but can't sort out the 
difference.

I get the same answer for Accuracy[1] as Precision[1], and 
for Accuracy[1.] as Precision[1.], and for 
	Accuracy[1.000000000000000000000000000000000001] as
	Precision[1.000000000000000000000000000000000001].

I'm afraid the accuracy of my brain is unable to cope.

Help!

Paul.

(Accurate and Precise answers most welcome)


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