ERRORS AND
MISTAKES
Probable Error of a single observation
σ 𝑉2
◦ 𝐸 = 0.6745 𝑛−1
◦ Where e = probable error
◦ σ 𝑉 2 = sum of the squares of the residuals
◦ n = number of observation
◦ Probable error of the mean:
σ 𝑉2
◦ 𝐸𝑚 = 0.6745
𝑛(𝑛−1)
𝐸
◦ 𝐸𝑚 = 𝑛
ADJUSTMENTS OF WEIGHTED
OBSERVATIONS
◦ The weights are inversely proportional to the square of the corresponding probable errors.
𝐾 𝐾 𝐾
◦ 𝑊1 = 𝐸 2 𝑊2 = 𝐸 2 𝑊3 = 𝐸 2
1 2 3
◦ 𝑤1 𝐸12 = 𝑊2 𝐸22 = 𝑊3 𝐸32
𝑊1 𝐸22 𝑊1 𝐸32
◦ 𝑊2
= 𝐸12 𝑊3
= 𝐸12
◦ The weights are also proportional to the number of observations.
◦ Errors are directly proportional to the square roots of distances.
Example No.1
◦ Determine the most probable value of the measurements having different values based
on the number of measurements as tabulated in the table shown below.
DISTANCE NO. OF MEASUREMENTS
520.12 1
520.20 3
520.18 6
520.24 8
SOLUTION
◦ The weights are also proportional to the number of observation.
DISTANCE WEIGHT WEIGHTED VALUES
520.14 1 520.14 (1) = 520.14
520.20 3 520.20 (3) = 1560.60
520.18 6 520.18 (6) = 3121.08
520.24 8 520.24 (8) = 9363.74
SUM = 18 SUM = 9363.74
9363.74
𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑏𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒 = = 520.208
18
Example No. 2
◦ The following data are the observed elevation of a point by running a line of levels over
four different routes. It is required to determine the most probable value of the elevation.
ROUTE ELEVATIONS PROBABLE ERROR
1 340.22 ±02
2 340.30 ±04
3 340.26 ±06
4 340.32 ±08
SOLUTION
◦ The weights are inversely proportional to the square of the corresponding probable errors.
𝐾 𝐾 𝐾 𝐾
◦ 𝑊= 𝑊= 𝑊= 𝑊=
(2)2 (4)2 (6)2 (8)2
◦ 4𝑊1 = 16𝑊2 = 36𝑊3 = 64𝑊4
◦ 𝑊1 = 4𝑊2 = 9𝑊3 = 16𝑊4
◦ If 𝑊1 = 1
1
◦ 𝑊2 =
4
1
◦ 𝑊3 =
9
1
◦ 𝑊4 =
16
SOLUTION
ROUTE DIFFERENCE IN WEIGHT WEIGHTED
ELEVATION OBSERVATION
1 340.22 1 340.22 (1) = 340.22
2 340.30 ¼ 340.30 (1/4) = 85.075
3 340.26 1/9 340.26 (1/9) = 37.807
4 340.32 1/16 340.32 (1/16) = 21.270
SUM = 1.4236 SUM = 484.372
484.372
Most Probable Value = = 340.244
1.4236
Example No. 3
◦ A baseline measured with an invar tape, and with a steel tape are as follows:
Invar Tape Steel Tape
571.185 571.193
571.186 571.190
571.179 571.185
571.180 571.189
571.183 571.182
◦ What are the most probable values under each set and their corresponding probable errors?
◦ What is the most probable value of the two sets and the probable error of the general mean?
SOLUTION
◦ Invar Tape
571.185+571.186+571.179+571.180+571.183
◦ 𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑏𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒 𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑛 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒 = = 571.183
5
◦ 571.185 − 571.183 = 0.002
◦ 571.186 − 571.183 = 0.003
◦ 571.179 − 571.183 = −0.004
◦ 571.180 − 571.183 = −0.003
◦ 571.183 − 571.183 = 0
SOLUTION
◦ Steel Tape
571.193+571.190+571.185+571.189+571.182
◦ 𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑏𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒 𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑛 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒 = = 571.188
5
◦ 571.193 − 571.188 = 0.005
◦ 571.190 − 571.188 = 0.002
◦ 571.185 − 571.188 = −0.003
◦ 571.189 − 571.188 = 0.001
◦ 571.182 − 571.188 = −0.006
SOLUTION
Residual (V) 𝑽𝟐 Residual (V) 𝑽𝟐
0.002 0.000004 0.005 0.000025
0.003 0.000009 0.002 0.000004
-0.004 0.000016 -0.003 0.000004
-0.003 0.000009 0.001 0.000001
-0.006 0.000036
𝑉 2 = 0.000038 𝑉 2 = 0.000075
SOLUTION
σ 𝑉2
◦ 𝑃𝐸 = 0.6745 𝑛(𝑛−1)
0.000038
◦ 𝑃𝐸 = 0.6745 5(4)
◦ 𝑃𝐸 = ±0.00093
σ 𝑉2
◦ 𝑃𝐸 = 0.6745 𝑛(𝑛−1)
0.000038
◦ 𝑃𝐸 = 0.6745 5(4)
◦ 𝑃𝐸 = ±0.00093
SOLUTION
𝐾 𝐾
𝑊1 = 2 𝑊2 =
𝐸1 𝐸22
𝑊1 𝐸12 = 𝑊2 𝐸22 𝑊1 (0.00093)2 = 𝑊2 (0.00131)2
Assume 𝑊2 = 1
𝑊1 (0.00093)2 = 1(0.00131)2 𝑊1 = 1.98
Probable Value Probable Error Weight Wt. x value
571.183 𝐸1 = 0.00093 𝑊1 = 1.98 1130.94
571.188 𝐸2 = 0.00131 𝑊2 = 1.00 571.188
W = 2.98 1702.128
SOLUTION
1702.128
◦ 𝑀𝑜𝑠𝑡 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑏𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑡𝑤𝑜 𝑠𝑒𝑡𝑠 = = 571.184
2.98
◦ Probable Error of the Mean
𝐾 𝐾 𝐾
◦ W = 𝐸2 𝑊1 = 𝐸 2 𝑊2 = 𝐸 2
1 2
◦ 𝑊𝐸 2 = 𝑊1 𝐸12 = 𝑊2 𝐸22
1.98 (0.00093)2
◦ 𝐸2 = 2.98
◦ 𝐸 = ±0.00076
1.00 (0.00131)2
◦ 𝐸2 = 2.98
◦ 𝐸 = ±0.00076
