Science and engineering Error

erroneous traffic sign in israel. correct sign depicted on lower-right corner.

in statistics, error (or residual) not mistake rather difference between computed, estimated, or measured value , accepted true, specified, or theoretically correct value.

in science , engineering in general error defined difference between desired , actual performance or behavior of system or object. definition basis of operation many types of control systems, in error defined difference between set point , process value. example of thermostat in home heating system—the operation of heating equipment controlled difference (the error) between thermostat setting , sensed air temperature. approach related considering scientific hypothesis true or false, giving birth 2 types of errors: type 1 , type 2. first 1 when true hypothesis considered false, while second reverse (a false 1 considered true).

engineers seek design devices, machines , systems , in such way mitigate or preferably avoid effects of error, whether unintentional or not. such errors in system can latent design errors may go unnoticed years, until right set of circumstances arises cause them become active. other errors in engineered systems can arise due human error, includes cognitive bias. human factors engineering applied designs in attempt minimize type of error making systems more forgiving or error-tolerant.

(in computational mechanics, when solving system such ax = b there distinction between error — inaccuracy in x — , residual—the inaccuracy in ax.)