Item: 237 by _jk at hpcvbbs.UUCP
Author: [Jay Kyle]
  Subj: Uncertainties
  Keyw: 'ERROR' (xñdx)  [that's x-plus-or-minus-dx, you non-IBMers! -jkh-]
  Date: Thu Feb 28 1991

This is a program that adds, subtracts, multiplies, raises to a power, etc
uncertainties or in other words numbers such as 2 ñ 0.5.  The program has full
instructions. (I decided to have this as there's nothing more frustrating than
having a program that is used occasionally and forgetting how to use it!)

[Neat idea!  Now we need a menu key called 'F1'! -jkh-]

Common error analysis is done in generally two different ways, an absolute
method, and a random or systematic method. The absolute method compounds
absolute errors ie. (2ñ0.5) +(3ñ0.3)= (5ñ0.8) whereas the random method
uses a less pessimistic approach.  In the case of this program, I utilized the
general formula:

     dz = SQRT[(df/da)^2*da^2+(df/db)^2*dB^2+...)]
                 ^
                 |
            (partial derivatives)       for   z=f(a,b,...)

which has a 90% confidence in the answer.
  The program has both methods in it.
  The program also utilizes a custom menu for choices of operations. I've
included a work directory as part of the program simply to go into to do any
calculations, a single program called WIPE exists that "wipes the work slate
clean " so to speak. This is just a quick way to clear work directory after
you're finished with a particular formula. I borrowed this concept from an old
hp 28 program.
  Many thanks to a couple of friends, Phillip Weis and Steve Hall for beta
testing it for me.

(User.programs)
Item: 239 by _jk at hpcvbbs.UUCP
Author: [Jay Kyle]
  Subj: Uncertainties math program
  Keyw: xñdx, error, uncertainties
  Date: Sun Mar 03 1991

  This is an updated version of my uncertainties program, ( v 1.2 )
that now works with unit objects as well as real numbers. The main
description is in message #237. I have renamed it ERROR, short for
"error analysis".

error (5904 bytes)
[Uncertainties math program for lab data]

   Enjoy
                               Jay Kyle
                                UBC
                               Chemical Engineering student.