Uncertainty Calculations - Multiplication

Calculations with Uncertainties
Recap
Uncertainty Calculations - Multiplication

Wilfrid Laurier University
Terry Sturtevant
Wilfrid Laurier University
May 9, 2013
Terry Sturtevant
Uncertainty Calculations - Multiplication Wilfrid Laurier Universi

Recap
Multiplication by a constant
Multiplication with Multiple Uncertainties
Calculations with uncertainties
Terry Sturtevant

Recap
When quantities with uncertainties are combined, the results

have uncertainties as well.
Terry Sturtevant

Recap

Following is a discussion of multiplication.
Terry Sturtevant

Recap

Following is a discussion of multiplication.
For the following examples, the values of x = 2 1 and
y = 32.0 0.2 will be used.
Terry Sturtevant

Recap
Terry Sturtevant

Recap
Multiplication by a constant with uncertainties
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Multiplication by a constant - Example
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Recap

Suppose we have a number with an uncertainty, and we
multiply it by a constant.
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Recap

(A constant is a number with no uncertainty.)
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What happens to the uncertainty?
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x =21
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x =21
4x can be as small as 4 1 = 4
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x =21
since 2 1 = 1
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x =21
since 2 1 = 1
4x can be as big as 4 3 = 12
Terry Sturtevant

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x =21
since 2 1 = 1
4x can be as big as 4 3 = 12
since 2 + 1 = 3
so 4x = 8 4 = (4 2) (4 1)
Terry Sturtevant

Recap
Graphically,
The nominal value of x is here. (i.e. the value without considering uncertainties)
Terry Sturtevant

Recap
Graphically,
If we multiply by 1/2, both x and x get smaller.
Terry Sturtevant

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To summarize,
Terry Sturtevant

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To summarize,
So in general, (C x) = C x
Terry Sturtevant

Recap
To summarize,
So in general, (C x) = C x
When multiplying by a constant, we multiply the
uncertainty by the constant as well.
Terry Sturtevant

Recap
Terry Sturtevant

Recap
What if both numbers have uncertainties?
Terry Sturtevant

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Multiplication with Multiple Uncertainties - Example
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Recap
If we multiply these numbers,
Terry Sturtevant

Recap

z = (x = 2 1) (y = 32.0 0.2)
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z = (x = 2 1) (y = 32.0 0.2)
z can be as small as 1 31.8 = 31.8
Terry Sturtevant

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z = (x = 2 1) (y = 32.0 0.2)
since x can be as small as 1 and y can be as small as 31.8
Terry Sturtevant

Recap

z = (x = 2 1) (y = 32.0 0.2)
z can be as big as 3 32.2 = 96.6
Terry Sturtevant

Recap

z = (x = 2 1) (y = 32.0 0.2)
since x can be as big as 3
Terry Sturtevant

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z = (x = 2 1) (y = 32.0 0.2)
since x can be as big as 3 and y can be as big as 32.2
Terry Sturtevant

Recap

z = (x = 2 1) (y = 32.0 0.2)
since x can be as big as 3 and y can be as big as 32.2
Terry Sturtevant

Recap
To summarize,
Terry Sturtevant

Recap
To summarize,
Terry Sturtevant

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To summarize,
Terry Sturtevant

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To summarize,
The nominal value of z is
Terry Sturtevant

Recap
To summarize,
z = 2 32.0 = 64.0
Terry Sturtevant

Recap
To summarize,
z = 2 32.0 = 64.0
So we can say z 64.0 32.4
Terry Sturtevant

Recap
To summarize,
z = 2 32.0 = 64.0
and we see that z 32.4 =
Terry Sturtevant
1
2
0.2
32.0
64.0 =
x
x
y
y

Recap
To summarize,
z = 2 32.0 = 64.0

0.2
and we see that z 32.4 = 12 + 32.0
64.0 = x
x +

y
So in general, (xy ) = xy x
x + y
Terry Sturtevant
y
y

Recap
To summarize,
z = 2 32.0 = 64.0

0.2
and we see that z 32.4 = 12 + 32.0
64.0 = x
x +

y
So in general, (xy ) = xy x
x + y
y
y
When multiplying numbers, we add proportional

uncertainties.
Terry Sturtevant

Recap
To show this graphically, remember that the product of two

numbers is the area of a rectangle with sides equal to the two
lengths.
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Recap

lengths.
For illustration purposes, well only show uncertainties in one
direction.
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Recap

lengths.
For illustration purposes, well only show uncertainties in one
direction.
Just remember that uncertainties can be in either direction.
Terry Sturtevant

Recap
Graphically,
This is the nominal value of x
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Recap
Graphically,
The maximum value of x includes x.
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Recap
Graphically,
This is the nominal value of y .
Terry Sturtevant

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Graphically,
y
The maximum value of y includes y .
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Graphically,
xy
This is the nominal value of the area; i.e. xy .
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Graphically,
max(xy )
This is the maximum value of the area; i.e.

(y + y ).
Terry Sturtevant
(x + x)

Recap
Graphically,
This is the difference between the nominal value of the area

and the maximum value of the area.
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Recap
Graphically,
y
x
This part of the difference has a size of xy
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Recap
Graphically,
x
This part of the difference has a size of y x
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Graphically,
x
y
This part of the difference has a size of xy
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Graphically,
x
y
Because this is relatively small, well ignore it.
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Recap
Graphically,
This is approximately the difference, and has a size of y x +

xy
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Recap
So finally,
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So finally,
If the uncertainty in xy is approximately equal to y x + xy ,
or
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Recap
So finally,
or
(xy ) y x + xy
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So finally,
or
(xy ) y x + xy
We can multiply both the top and bottom of the right side by
xy so we get
Terry Sturtevant

Recap
So finally,
or
(xy ) y x + xy
xy so we get
(xy )
xy
xy
(y x + xy )
Terry Sturtevant

Recap
So finally,
or
(xy ) y x + xy
xy so we get
(xy )
xy
xy
(y x + xy )
which becomes
Terry Sturtevant

Recap
So finally,
or
(xy ) y x + xy
xy so we get
(xy )
xy
xy
(y x + xy )
which becomes
(xy ) (xy ) x
x +
y
y
Terry Sturtevant

Recap
So finally,
or
(xy ) y x + xy
xy so we get
(xy )
xy
xy
(y x + xy )
which becomes
(xy ) (xy ) x
x +
y
y
Remember that if x or y can be negative, well need

absolute value signs around the appropriate terms, since
uncertainty contributions should always be given as
positive numbers.
Terry Sturtevant

Recap
Recap
Terry Sturtevant

Recap
Recap
1. When multiplying by a constant, the uncertainty gets
multiplied by the constant as well.
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Recap
4 (2 1) = (4 2) (4 1) = 8 4
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Recap
Recap
4 (2 1) = (4 2) (4 1) = 8 4
2. When multiplying numbers, we add the proportional
uncertainties.
Terry Sturtevant

Recap
Recap
4 (2 1) = (4 2) (4 1) = 8 4
2. When multiplying numbers, we add the proportional
uncertainties.

1
0.2
(2 1) (32.0 0.2) = (2 32.0) (2 32.0)
+
2 32.0
= 64.0 64.0 (0.5 + 0.00625)
= 64.0 32.4
Terry Sturtevant

Recap
Recap - continued
Terry Sturtevant

Recap
Recap - continued
3. Uncertainties in final results are usually expressed to one

significant figure, so the above result becomes
64.0 32.4 = 60 30
Terry Sturtevant

Uncertainty Calculations - Multiplication

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Calculations with Uncertainties