2. Definition An approximation is an inexact representation of something that is still close enough to be useful. It may yield a sufficiently accurate solution while reducing the complexity of the problem significantly.
3. SignificantFigures The significant figures in a measurement include the certain digits, or digits which the scientist can state are accurate without question, and one uncertain digit, or digit which has some possibility of error.
7. When adding and subtracting, round the final result to have the same precision (same number of decimal places) as the least precise initial value, regardless of the significant figures of any one term. 98.112 +2.300 100.412 But this value must be rounded to 100.4 (the precision of the least precise term). Addition and Subtraction
8. When multiplying, dividing, or taking roots, the result should have the same number of significant figures as the least precise number in the calculation. 3.69 x 2.3059 8.5088 This value which should be rounded to 8.51 (three significant figures like 3.69). Multiplication, Division, and Roots
9. Logarithms and Antilogarithms When calculating the logarithm of a number, retain in the mantissa (the number to the right of the decimal point in the logarithm) the same number of significant figures as there are in the number whose logarithm is being found. This result should be rounded to 4.4771 But this value should be rounded to 4.5
10. Logarithms and Antilogarithms When calculating the antilogarithm of a number, the resulting value should have the same number of significant figures as the mantissa in the logarithm. antilog(0.301) = 1.9998, which should be rounded to 2.00 antilog(0.301) = 1.9998, which should be rounded to 2.0
11. Accuracy and Precision Numerical methods must be sufficiently accurate or without bias to satisfy the requirements of a particular engineering problem
14. Numerical Errors To both types of errors, the relation between the exact or real result and the approximate result is given by: True value = Approximate value + error Then the numerical error is Et = True value - Approximate value Where Etis used to denote the exact error value.
15. o This definition has the disadvantage of not taking into consideration the magnitude order of the estimated value, so an error of 1ft is much more significant if is measuring a bridge instead of the well depth. To correct this, the error is normalized with respect to the true value, i.e.: ó Replacing in the above equation the true error Etis:
16. o Generally, in so much real applications are unknown the true answer, whereby is used the approximation: There are numerical methods which use iterative method to calculate the results, where do an approximation considering the previous approximation; this process is performed several times or iteratively, hoping for better approaches, therefore the relative percent error is given by:
17. Rounding Is the process of elimination of insignificant figures.
19. Total Numerical Error It is the addition of the truncation and rounding errors. The only way to minimize this type of error is to increase the number of significant figures.
20. Bibliography CHAPRA, Steven C. y CANALE, Raymond P.: Métodos Numéricos para Ingenieros. McGraw Hill 2007. 5ª edition. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Approximation http://www.mitecnologico.com/Main/ConceptosBasicosMetodosNumericosCifraSignificativaPrecisionExactitudIncertidumbreYSesgo http://www.ndt-d.org/GeneralResources/SigFigs/SigFigs.htm http://www.montgomerycollege.edu/Departments/scilcgt/sig-figs.pdf
