probable error

American  

noun

Statistics.

1. a quantity formerly used as a measure of variability: equal to 0.6745 times the standard deviation. A normally distributed population has half of its elements within one probable error of the mean.

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probable error Scientific  

/ prŏb′ə-bəl /

1. The amount by which the arithmetic mean of a sample is expected to vary because of chance alone.

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Etymology

Origin of probable error

First recorded in 1805–15

Example Sentences

Then among the foothills of the Sierras at Colfax, the coefficient drops till it is scarcely larger than the probable error.

From Climatic Changes Their Nature and Causes by Huntington, Ellsworth

Connected with the coefficient of correlation, usually, is a figure for "probable error," which depends, primarily, on the square root of the number of observations.

From The Value of Money by Anderson, Benjamin M.

The ambiguous term � .05 is sometimes called the probable error.

From The New Gresham Encyclopedia Volume 4, Part 2: Ebert to Estremadura by Various

The time-lapse due to distance had a presumed correction and there was a considerable probable error in the speed of translation of the ship during overdrive.

From Talents, Incorporated by Leinster, Murray

These coefficients are all small, but the number of individual cases, 600 months, is so large that the probable error is greatly reduced, being only ±0.027 or ±0.028.

From Climatic Changes Their Nature and Causes by Huntington, Ellsworth