Question

Absolute error is always ___________.
1. positive
2. negative
3. both positive and negative can be possible
4. None of the above

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 1 : positive

CONCEPT:

• Error: The result of every measurement of experiments by any measuring instrument contains some uncertainty. This uncertainty is called error. 
• Absolute error: The magnitude of the difference between the measurement of the experimental readings and the true value of the quantity is called the absolute error.
  • This is denoted by |Δa |. 
  • Absolute error is always positive.

EXPLANATION:

• Absolute error is the magnitude of the difference between the measured value while doing the experiment measurement and the true value.
• Since it is a magnitude, it will be always positive.
• We calculate it by using modulus of difference |Δa |. So if the difference is a negative modulus sign will give a positive value.
• So the correct answer is option 1.