Error Margin
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Definition
The range above and below a measured or estimated value within which the true value is expected to fall, typically expressed at a stated confidence level.
Explanation
A poll reporting 52% ± 3% has an error margin of 3 percentage points at 95% confidence, meaning the true value likely lies between 49% and 55%. In physical measurements, a laboratory scale might report 125.4 ± 0.1 g, indicating the true mass is within 0.08% of the reading. Error margins quantify uncertainty without hiding it.
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A numerical multiplier used to convert a quantity from one unit to another.
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The degree of refinement in a measurement, indicated by the number of significant digits.
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How close a measurement is to the true value of the quantity being measured.
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