What this calculator does
Error propagation works out propagates the uncertainty of two measurements through a sum, difference, product or quotient. Enter your own figures above and the answer updates as you type: nothing is fixed in the code, so the result reflects exactly the numbers you supply.
The formula this calculator evaluates is printed under the tool and explained below, so you can check the working by hand or reuse it in a spreadsheet.
The formula
FormulaSum/difference: ΔZ = √[(ΔX)² + (ΔY)²]. Product/quotient: ΔZ = |Z| · √[(ΔX/X)² + (ΔY/Y)²]
The inputs explained
| Field | What to enter |
|---|---|
| X | A number. Starts at 12. |
| Uncertainty ΔX | A number. Starts at 0.5. |
| Y | A number. Starts at 5. |
| Uncertainty ΔY | A number. Starts at 0.2. |
| Operation | Choose from X + Y, X − Y, X × Y, X ÷ Y. |
Worked examples
Every figure in the tables below is produced by this page’s own calculator at build time, so the numbers and the tool always agree. Select any row to load that scenario.
How the answer changes with x
Every other input is held at the calculator’s starting values while x varies. Select any row to load that scenario into the calculator.