2007-09-12 07:50:28 · 3 answers · asked by mid a 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
The answers above are correct, to add to them. For an easy visualization, imagine you are throwing three darts at a dartboard, and you are aiming for the bullseye.
If you are a precise thrower your three darts will land close to each, but not necessarily close to the bullseye.
If you are an accurate thrower your darts will be in and around the bullseye, but the darts may not necessarily be near each other.
If you are BOTH and accurate and a precise darts thrower, your darts will be close to each other AND close to the bullseye.
Good luck.
Oz
2007-09-12 08:03:59 · answer #1 · answered by Dr Oz 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Accuracy is how close the answer is to "right." If you have some constant error that causes the answer to be "off," the method isn't accurate.
Precision is how close measurements are to one another. If a distance is 100 ft, and if you measure it with a 12-inch ruler, and if you get 99 ft 6 in. one time and 100 ft 6 in. the other, that is more precise than if you get 99 ft the first time and 101 ft the second.
2007-09-12 07:59:49 · answer #2 · answered by steve_geo1 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Accuracy - given a sample of known content (for example 10mg/l of lead in drinking water), how close can you get to the correct answer.
Precision - measuring the sample described above 20 times, will your answers be 10.1, 9.9, 10.2, 9.7, 10.1 etc, or will they be 5.0, 15.0, 12.0, 8.0. Both sets of data average to the correct answer (10.0) but the first set of data is more precise.
2007-09-12 08:00:42 · answer #3 · answered by Top Gun 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋