Statistics Definitions > Greatest Possible Error
What is The Greatest Possible Error?
The greatest possible error (GPE) is the largest amount a ballpark figure can miss the mark. It’s one half of the measuring unit you are using. For example:
- If measuring in centimeters, the GPE is 1/2 cm.
- …or in liters, the GPE is 1/2 L.
- If measuring in feet, the GPE is 1/2 of a foot.
- …or in tenths of a meter, the GPE is 1/2 of tenth of a meter (that’s 1/2 * 1/10 m = 0.05 m).
Note: “Error” in statistics doesn’t mean that it’s wrong; it just means it’s imprecise.
Ballparking and GPE
The greatest possible error is a formal term for something we do every day: ballparking (i.e. estimating). For example, you might say “I’m about 5’8″.” That doesn’t mean you’re exactly 5’8″. It’s safe to say you could be a half inch either way. That half-inch is the GPE (because you’re using inches), so you’re already using the GPE — but may not know it!
How to Find the Greatest Possible Error — Examples
Example problem #1: What is the GPE for 5 meters?.
Step 1: Rephrase the question by putting the word “about” in front of the number:
What is the GPE for about 5 meters?.
This should make the sentence sound more familiar (i.e. “It’s about 5 meters”).
Step 2: Identify the unit measurement.
We are measuring in “meters.”
Step 3: Multiply the measurement in Step 2 by one half:
“meter” * 1/2 = 1/2 meter.
The GPE for 5 meters is 1/2 meter.
That’s it!
Example problem #2: What is the GPE for 3.9 inches?.
Step 1: Rephrase the question by putting the word “about” in front of the number:
What is the GPE for about 3.9 inches?.
This should make the sentence sound more familiar (i.e. “It’s about 3.9 inches”).
Step 2: Identify the unit measurement.
We are measuring in “inches.”
Step 3: Multiply the measurement in Step 2 by one half:
“Inches” * 1/2 = 1/2 inch.
The GPE for 3.9 inches is 1/2 inch.
That’s it!
Example problem #3 (Trick Question!): What is the GPE for 9.76 cm?.
Step 1: Rephrase the question by putting the word “about” in front of the number:
What is the GPE for about 9.76 cm?.
This should make the sentence sound more familiar (i.e. “It’s about 9.76 cm”).
But!
We are measuring in centimeters, but notice there’s a couple of decimal places. We aren’t actually measuring in cm, we’re measuring in hundredths of a centimeter. If you have decimal places, then rephrase the statement in words, not numbers.
“It’s about 9.76 cm” in words is “It’s about 9 cm and 76 hundredths.”
Step 2: Identify the unit measurement.
We are measuring in hundredths of a centimeter (in numbers, that’s 1/100ths).
Step 3: Multiply the measurement in Step 2 by one half:
1/2 * 1/100th cm = 0.005 cm .
The GPE for 9.76 cm is 0.005 cm.
That’s it!