Learning Targets
Percent error can be used to describe any situation where there is a correct value and an incorrect value, and we want to describe the relative difference between them. For example, if a milk carton is supposed to contain 16 fluid ounces and it only contains 15 fluid ounces:
We can also use percent error when talking about estimates. For example, a teacher estimates there are about 600 students at their school. If there are actually 625 students, then the percent error for this estimate was 4%, because 625 − 600 = 25 and 25 ÷ 625 = 0.04.
percent error: The difference between the correct value and the incorrect value, expressed as a percentage of the correct value.
Many measuring tapes like this are made out of metal. Some metals expand or contract slightly at warmer or colder temperatures.
A metal measuring tape expands when the temperature goes above 50∘F. For every degree Fahrenheit above 50, its length increases by 0.00064%.
What strategies did we use to solve percent error problems?
How are these strategies similar to the ones we used while solving percent increase/decrease problems?