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

These differences are very small; an elaborate investigation of all sources of error shows that the probable error of a base line in India is on the average �2.8 μ.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 11, Slice 6 "Geodesy" to "Geometry" by Various

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

The precipitation of two preceding seasons, however, has some effect on the trees, as appears in the second line of Section A, where the correlation coefficient is +0.288, or 3.2 times the probable error.

From Climatic Changes Their Nature and Causes by Huntington, Ellsworth

The probable error of a single observation of a fine object with this theodolite is about 0″.2.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 11, Slice 6 "Geodesy" to "Geometry" by Various

I might, by possibility, look too highly; or, by an equally probable error, I might place myself on too humble a level.

From Sir Jasper Carew His Life and Experience by Lever, Charles James