Percent Error
The standard scientific accuracy metric.
Used in physics labs, engineering, and statistics to express how close a measurement is to the true value.
Worked examples
Measured 9.81, actual 9.8: error 0.10%.
Measured 105g, actual 100g: error 5%.
Frequently asked questions
Can it be over 100%?
Yes — if the measured value differs from actual by more than 100%.
Absolute or signed?
Most conventions take the absolute value. Use signed (no abs) if direction matters.