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    2 Errors and Uncertainties

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    Dianny 97
    This document discusses errors and uncertainties in computations. It outlines four main types of errors: bunders, random errors, approximation errors, and round-off errors. It also provides examples of how errors can accumulate over multiple steps of a computation, potentially leading to unstable or meaningless ("garbage") results. The document recommends approaches for modeling errors, such as modeling subtractive cancellation and multiplicative errors. It also outlines an experimental approach for determining the types and magnitudes of errors in algorithms, including testing for convergence, precision of results, and computational efficiency.

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    2 Errors and Uncertainties

    Uploaded by

    Dianny 97
    27 views12 pages
    This document discusses errors and uncertainties in computations. It outlines four main types of errors: bunders, random errors, approximation errors, and round-off errors. It also provides examples of how errors can accumulate over multiple steps of a computation, potentially leading to unstable or meaningless ("garbage") results. The document recommends approaches for modeling errors, such as modeling subtractive cancellation and multiplicative errors. It also outlines an experimental approach for determining the types and magnitudes of errors in algorithms, including testing for convergence, precision of results, and computational efficiency.

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    errors and uuncertaintis. Ing Pedro Escudero-ESPOCH

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    This document discusses errors and uncertainties in computations. It outlines four main types of errors: bunders, random errors, approximation errors, and round-off errors. It also provides examples of how errors can accumulate over multiple steps of a computation, potentially leading to unstable or meaningless ("garbage") results. The document recommends approaches for modeling errors, such as modeling subtractive cancellation and multiplicative errors. It also outlines an experimental approach for determining the types and magnitudes of errors in algorithms, including testing for convergence, precision of results, and computational efficiency.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    27 views12 pages

    2 Errors and Uncertainties

    Uploaded by

    Dianny 97
    This document discusses errors and uncertainties in computations. It outlines four main types of errors: bunders, random errors, approximation errors, and round-off errors. It also provides examples of how errors can accumulate over multiple steps of a computation, potentially leading to unstable or meaningless ("garbage") results. The document recommends approaches for modeling errors, such as modeling subtractive cancellation and multiplicative errors. It also outlines an experimental approach for determining the types and magnitudes of errors in algorithms, including testing for convergence, precision of results, and computational efficiency.

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    Errors and Uncertainties in Computation

    APRIL/2015

    1
    Topics

    • Errors and Uncertainties in Computations


    • Types of Errors, the 4 problems
    • Disaster Model: Subtractive Cancelation
    • Model for Multiplicative Errors
    • Experiment Determine Errors
    • Experimental Approach

    2
    Errors and Uncertainties in Computations
    Whether you are careful or not, errors and uncertainties are a part of
    computation. Some errors are the ones that humans inevitably make, but
    some are introduced by the computer. Computer errors arise because of
    the limited precision with which computers store numbers or because
    algorithms or models can fail. Although it stifles creativity to keep
    thinking “error” when approaching a computation, it certainly is a waste
    of time, and may lead to harm, to work with results that are meaningless
    (“garbage”) because of errors. In this chapter we examine some of the
    errors and uncertainties that may occur in computations. Even though we
    do not dwell on it, the lessons of this chapter apply to all other chapters
    as well.
    To err is human, to forgive divine.
    Alexander Pope

    3
    Problem: Life + Errors (Uncertainties)
    Errors always are part of computation
    Finite precision -> uncertainties = “errors”
    Don´t be afraid and Don’t play with garbage.
    Errors accumulate with steps Ui
    Ex:
    Start -> U1 -> U2 -> … -> Un -> end (1)

    p = probability Ui correct
    P = pn = probability n steps correct
    n = 1000, p= 0,9993 -> P = 1/2

    4
    Types of Errors: (4 plagues)
    1. Bunders: typos, wrong program, wrong data, ….
    2. Ramdom errors: electronic fluctuations, cosmic rays, someone
    pulling a plug…
    • Rare, but if 108 steps?
    • Can’t control
    • Repeat calculation

    3. Approximation errors: imprecision arising from simplifying the


    mathematics, algorithm, approximation math.

    (2) • Decrease as N increases


    • Vanishes as N -> ∞

    5
    Types of Errors: (4 plagues)
    4. Round-Off Errors: imprecision arising from the finite number of digits
    used to store floating-point numbers.
    • Beause: numbers via finite # bits
    • ≈ uncertainties in measurement
    • Some numbers represent exact (2n)
    • Accumulates with steps -> unstable
    • -> garbage: RO ≈ result:

    (3)

    • Significant figures •Most significant part: 1.12233


    • a = 11223344556677889900 (4)
    •Leas significant part: 44556677
    • = 1.1223344556677889900 * 1019
    •Error prone
    • Exponent: stored separately
    Small -> full precision

    6
    Model for disaster: Subtractive Cancelation
    Theorem: If you subtract two large numbers and end up with a small
    one, there will be less significance, and possibly a lot less significance, in
    the small one.

    7
    Model for Multiplicative Errors

    8
    Experiment: Determine Errors

    1. Basic algorithm questions:


    ◦ a) does it converge?
    ◦ b) if not, quit
    ◦ c) how precise are converged results?

    2. Converged ≠ correct
    3. How $$ (time consuming) ?

    9
    Experiment: expect behavior

    10
    Experimental Approach

    11
    The end:

    Time for exercises

    Computational Physics
    Problem Solving with Computers, Rubin Landau, Enlarged eTextBook Python
    3rd Edition, Pag: 51

    12

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