Interactive · 1 question
What Is Percent Error?
Percent Error is a calculation that determines how much error occurred during an experiment
There are multiple types of error that cause an increase in the percent error. Error can come from a range of mistakes such as technique or a problem with using the equipment. Error is completely normal, and expected!
The Formula for Calculating Percentage Error Is:
X 100%
Experimental Value: The value determined from conducting the experiment
Accepted Value: The value derived from a source (typically a known value that can be found from a reliable source)
Here's A Step-by-Step Example:
The melting point of gold is 1,064°C, however, when a student went to determine the melting point of gold, they measured the melting point to be 1,011°C. What is the percent error?
1) Determine which number is the experimental value and which number is the accepted value
Experimental Value: 1,011°C because this is the value the student found while conducting the experiment
Accepted Value: 1,064 because this is the literature melting point of gold
2) Plug the numbers into the equation
3) Boom you're done!
The percent error for this experiment was 4.981%
Try out a problem!
A student was conducting an experiment to determine the density of platinum. During the experiment, the student found that the density of platinum was 19.89 g/mL. The student checked online and found that the density of platinum is 21.45 g/mL. What is the student's percent error for the experiment?

