L2 Precision & Accuracy
Completion requirements
Unit B: Measurement
The average piano has 220 strings. Each string has a unique pitch. Over time, the tension of each string changes, causing the piano to play out of tune. It is important to tune or calibrate each string on a piano, using a tuner, twice a year to ensure
that each key played has an accurate pitch.
All measuring tools, such as a digital scale, must be calibrated. Calibration ensures that the measuring tools produce accurate measurements.
In everyday life, precision and accuracy have similar meanings; however, in mathematics, precision and accuracy have very different meanings. In this lesson, the precision and accuracy of measurement tools, which were introduced in Lesson 1, will be discussed in more depth.
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to
- explain why a certain degree of accuracy is required for the task at hand
- explain why a certain degree of precision is required for the task at hand
- explain the difference between precision and accuracy
- compare the degree of accuracy of two instruments used to make the same measurement
- relate the degree of precision to the uncertainty of a measure
- solve problems involving precision and accuracy