Question

An engineer estimated the weight of a steel beam to be 600 pounds. The actual weight of the beam was 639 pounds. Find the absolute error and the percent error of the engineer's estimate. If necessary, round your answers to the nearest tenth.

Answer 1

Absolute error = 39 pounds

Percent error = 6.10%

Explanation:

We know that the estimated weight was 600 pounds while the actual weight of the beam was 639 pounds.

So we will find their difference to get the absolute error.

Absolute error = 639 - 600 = 39 pounds

We will use the following formula to find the percent error.

Percent error = (Estimated value - actual value / actual value) * 100

Percent error = 639 - 600 / 600 * 100 = 6.10%

Answer 2

Absolute error = 39

Percent Error = 6.10%

Explanation:

Actual value = 639 pounds

Observed Value = 600 pounds

The formula to find absolute error is:

Absolute Error = Actual value - Observed Value

= 639 - 600

= 39

The formula to find Percent error is:

Percent Error = (Actual value - Observed Value / Actual value)*100

= (639 - 600/639)*100

= 6.10%