Relative error=Actual Value Error (decimal). Percent error=relative error × 100%.

3.141622/7−3.1416×100%≈0.04%.

Question 1

What’s a "good" percent error?

Accepted Answer

It depends on context:
High school labs: ≤5%
Research: ≤1%
Manufacturing: ≤0.1% (e.g., pharmaceuticals).

Question 2

Can percent error exceed 100%?

Accepted Answer

Yes! If experimental value is 2× actual value (e.g., measured=200, actual=100), error=100%.

Question 3

Why use absolute value?

Accepted Answer

To focus on error magnitude, not direction. A +5% and -5% error both imply 5% inaccuracy.

Question 4

How does percent error differ from relative error?

Accepted Answer

Relative error=Actual Value Error​ (decimal). Percent error=relative error × 100%.

Question 5

What’s the percent error for π ≈ 22/7?

Accepted Answer

3.141622/7−3.1416​×100%≈0.04%.

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