Percent error when the true value is 0?

Question

The formula for calculating percent error is (estimated value - true value) / true value * 100. My estimated value is 0.1 while the true value is 0, which would give me (0.1 - 0) / 0 * 100. Since dividing by 0 is impossible, how can i find the percent error?

Thank you!!

Answer 1

There isn't one in this case. Percent error is undefined when the denominator is zero. It's just a case where the concept of percent error isn't useful.

Answer 2

Certainly you end up dividing by zero, you cannot calculate percent error when the true value is zero.



I think the idea is that you should have any error when measuring a quantity of zero. It's hard to make a measurement mistake if you have zero of the unit!



To be honest, I had never considered this before, so thank you!

Answer 3

it is normally going to be a low percent error under those circumstances. Normally the methods of measurement are in the text book.

Answer 4

you can't its either a trick question or a typo.



division yields an infinitely large number. Youll learn that as you progress in mathematics.