Math

Percent Error Calculator

Compare a measured value to the true value as a percentage error.

Parameters Live Compute
Calculated Output
Percent error (%) 0.1019
Formula: error = |measured − true| ÷ |true| × 100
Step-by-Step Breakdown
1. Values used:
2. Measured value = 9.8
3. True value = 9.81
4.
5. Percent error = 0.1019%
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Quantify how far an experimental measurement is from the accepted/true value.

The math behind it

percent error = |measured − true| ÷ |true| × 100. Smaller is more accurate.

Worked Example

Measured 9.8 vs true 9.81 → |9.8 − 9.81| ÷ 9.81 × 100 = 0.10%.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can percent error be negative?

By the absolute-value definition, no — it reports magnitude only.

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