Difference between revisions of "Excessive precision"
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(Created page with "'''Excessive precision''' is a way of concealing how good the numbers are. For example, a 2011 ad for the Volkswagon Passat says it can go 795 miles on a tank of gas. This implie...") |
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| − | '''Excessive precision''' is a way of concealing how good the numbers are. For example, a 2011 ad for the Volkswagon Passat says it can go 795 miles on a tank of gas. This implies that 800 would be impossible, and that 790 is guaranteed, i.e., an accuracy of 5 miles. Actually, because of driving conditions or one's chosen speed there would be more variation. | + | '''Excessive precision''' is a way of concealing how good the numbers are. [http://moregrumbinescience.blogspot.com/2008/09/excess-precision.html] For example, a 2011 ad for the Volkswagon Passat says it can go 795 miles on a tank of gas. This implies that 800 would be impossible, and that 790 is guaranteed, i.e., an accuracy of 5 miles. Actually, because of driving conditions or one's chosen speed there would be more variation. |
See: | See: | ||
*[[precision]] | *[[precision]] | ||
*[[accuracy]] | *[[accuracy]] | ||
| + | *''[[How to Lie With Statistics]]'' | ||
Revision as of 17:49, November 20, 2011
Excessive precision is a way of concealing how good the numbers are. [1] For example, a 2011 ad for the Volkswagon Passat says it can go 795 miles on a tank of gas. This implies that 800 would be impossible, and that 790 is guaranteed, i.e., an accuracy of 5 miles. Actually, because of driving conditions or one's chosen speed there would be more variation.
See: