- #1
desquee
- 18
- 1
(Sorry if this is the wrong place for this question, I wasn't sure where to put it)
I've been running an experiment with rabbits, and am trying to figure out the error of my feed measurement.
I fed them using a 1/3 cup measure, and recorded the number of scoops they got. I estimated that the error for each individual scoop is 10%. If I then want to determine the error of the total amount of feed (850 scoops), would that also be 10%?
Intuitively that seems too high, since it's incredible unlikely that every single scoop was high by 10% (or low by 10%). In fact, I can say for sure that some scoops were high (over 1/3 cup) and some were low (under 1/3 cup), so that its impossible for the total feed to be off by 10%.
Is there a way of more accurately calculating the error?
I've been running an experiment with rabbits, and am trying to figure out the error of my feed measurement.
I fed them using a 1/3 cup measure, and recorded the number of scoops they got. I estimated that the error for each individual scoop is 10%. If I then want to determine the error of the total amount of feed (850 scoops), would that also be 10%?
Intuitively that seems too high, since it's incredible unlikely that every single scoop was high by 10% (or low by 10%). In fact, I can say for sure that some scoops were high (over 1/3 cup) and some were low (under 1/3 cup), so that its impossible for the total feed to be off by 10%.
Is there a way of more accurately calculating the error?