Approximations and Error

Engineering and Numerical Analysis

Department of Electrical Power

Dr. Hayder Yaqoob

2020-2021
1
Round off Error

• Caused by representing a number approximately

1
 0.333333
3
2  1.4142...

2
Problem with Patriot missile
• Clock cycle of 1/10 seconds was
represented in 24-bit fixed point
register created an error of 9.5 x 10-8
seconds.
• The battery was on for 100
consecutive hours, thus causing an
inaccuracy of

8 s 3600s
 9.5  10  100hr 
0.1s 1hr
 0.342s
3
Problem (cont.)

• The shift calculated in the ranging system of the missile was 687
meters.
• The target was considered to be out of range at a distance greater
than 137 meters.

4
Find the contraction in the
diameter
Tc

D  D   (T )dT
Ta

Ta=80oF; Tc=-108oF; D=12.363”

α = a0+ a1T + a2T2

5
Thermal Expansion Coefficient vs
Temperature
T(oF) α (μin/in/oF)
-340 2.45
-300 3.07
-220 4.08
-160 4.72
D  D  T
-80 5.43
0 6.00
40 6.24
80 6.47

6
Regressing Data in Excel
(general format)

Alpha ( in/in/ F)
8.00

o 4.00

0.00
-400 -200 0 200

T ( o F)

α = -1E-05T2 + 0.0062T + 6.0234

7
Observed and Predicted Values

α = -1E-05T2 + 0.0062T + 6.0234

T(oF) α (μin/in/oF) α (μin/in/oF)
Given Predicted
-340 2.45 2.76
-300 3.07 3.26
-220 4.08 4.18
-160 4.72 4.78
-80 5.43 5.46
0 6.00 6.02
40 6.24 6.26
80 6.47 6.46
8
Regressing Data in Excel
(scientific format)

Alpha ( in/in/ F)
8.00

o 4.00

0.00
-400 -200 0 200

T ( o F)

α = -1.2360E-05T2 + 6.2714E-03T + 6.0234

9
Observed and Predicted Values

α = -1.2360E-05T2 + 6.2714E-03T + 6.0234

T(oF) α (μin/in/oF) α (μin/in/oF)
Given Predicted
-340 2.45 2.46
-300 3.07 3.03
-220 4.08 4.05
-160 4.72 4.70
-80 5.43 5.44
0 6.00 6.02
40 6.24 6.25
80 6.47 6.45
10
Observed and Predicted Values
α = -1.2360E-05T2 + 6.2714E-03T + 6.0234
α = -1E-05T2 + 0.0062T + 6.0234
T(oF) α (μin/in/oF) α (μin/in/oF) α (μin/in/oF)
Given Predicted Predicted
-340 2.45 2.46 2.76
-300 3.07 3.03 3.26
-220 4.08 4.05 4.18
-160 4.72 4.70 4.78
-80 5.43 5.44 5.46
0 6.00 6.02 6.02
40 6.24 6.25 6.26
80 6.47 6.45 6.46
11
 Truncation error
• Error caused by truncating or approximating a mathematical
procedure.

Taking only a few terms of a Maclaurin series to

x
approximate e 2 3
x x
e  1  x    ....................
x

2! 3!
If only 3 terms are used,
 x 2

Truncation Error  e  1  x  
x

 2! 

12
Another Example of Truncation Error

Using a finite x to approximate f (x)

f ( x  x)  f ( x)
f ( x) 
x

secant line
P

tangent line

Figure 1. Approximate derivative using finite Δx

13
Another Example of Truncation Error

Using finite rectangles to approximate an

integral.
y

90

2
y=x
60

30

0 x
0 1.5 3 4.5 6 7.5 9 10.5 12

14
 Example 1 —Maclaurin series

1 .2
Calculate the value of e with an absolute
relative approximate error of less than 1%.
1.2 2 1.2 3
e 1.2
 1  1 .2    ...................
2! 3!
n
e 1 .2
Ea a %
1 1 __ ___
2 2.2 1.2 54.545
3 2.92 0.72 24.658
4 3.208 0.288 8.9776
5 3.2944 0.0864 2.6226
6 3.3151 0.020736 0.62550

6 terms are required. How many are required to get

at least 1 significant digit correct in your answer?15
Example 2 —Differentiation

f ( x)  x 2 f ( x  x)  f ( x)
Find f (3)
for using f ( x) 
x
and x  0.2
f (3  0.2)  f (3)
f ' (3) 
0 .2
f (3.2)  f (3) 3.2 2  32 10.24  9 1.24
 x  0.1    6.2
0 .2 0.2 0 .2 0. 2

The actual value is

f ' ( x )  2 x, f ' (3)  2  3  6

Truncation error is then, 6  6.2  0.2

Can you find the truncation error with 16
Example 3 — Integration

Use two rectangles of equal width to

approximate the area under the curve for
f ( x)  x 2 over the interval [3,9]
y
9
90
x
2
dx
3
2
y=x
60

30

0 x
0 3 6 9 12

17
 Integration example (cont.)

Choosing a width of 3, we have

9

  (6  3)  ( x 2 ) (9  6)
2 2
x dx ( x )
x 3 x 6
3
 (3 2 )3  (6 2 )3
 27  108  135
Actual value is given by
9 9
 x 3   93  33 
3 x dx   3    3   234
2

 3  
Truncation error is then
234  135  99
Can you find the truncation error with 4 rectangles?
18