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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

probable error

Page 17: "Manuel Commenus" probable error for "Manuel Comnenus".

From Hugh, Bishop of Lincoln A Short Story of One of the Makers of Mediaeval England by Charles L. (Charles Latimer) Marson

The law has therefore done much service in indicating probable error.

From An Elementary Study of Chemistry by William McPherson

When the rainfall of three seasons is taken into account the coefficient rises to +0.570, or 8.7 times the probable error, while with four years of rainfall the coefficient begins to fall off.

From Climatic Changes Their Nature and Causes by Ellsworth Huntington

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 Ellsworth Huntington

But after allowing for my probable error, it figures an ellipse of low eccentricity, between the orbits of Io and Europa.

From Spacehounds of IPC by E. E. (Edward Elmer) Smith

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