Question

Walter is planning a hiking trip and he estimated the gradient of trail to be 213.6 ft/mile. After hiking and tracking the trail, he found that the trail was actually 202.7 ft/mile. What was his percent error? Did he overestimate or underestimate the gradient?

Answer 1

Answer: His percent error = 5.38 %

He overestimated the gradient.

Explanation:

Formula :
`Percent\ error =(|Estimated\ value- Actual\ value|)/(Actual\ value)*100`

Given, Estimated gradient of trail = 213.6 ft/mile

Actual gradient of trail = 202.7 ft/mile

Since, 213.6 > 202.7 , that means he overestimated the gradient.

Percent error:
`(|213.6-202.7|)/(202.7)*100`

`=(10.9)/(202.7)*100\\\\\approx5.38\%`

Hence, percent error = 5.38 %