Difference between absolute error and relative error
Here is the difference between absolute error and relative error.
| Aspect | Absolute Error | Relative Error |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Measures the magnitude of the difference between the approximate value and the true value. | Compares the absolute error to the true value of the quantity. |
| Formula | Absolute Error = |Approximate Value – True Value| | Relative Error = (|Approximate Value – True Value|) / |True Value| |
| Units | Expressed in the same units as the quantity being measured. | Dimensionless (no units); often expressed as a percentage. |
| Interpretation | Provides the actual difference between the approximate and true values. | Gives the error relative to the size of the true value, showing its significance. |