
• These two are an integral part of human life. They are everywhere and unavoidable.
• Error = true value – approximate value
• Understanding the concept of error is so important to the effective use of numerical methods because every numerical method involves an approximation.
• For many applied engineering problems, we cannot obtain analytical solutions. Therefore, we cannot compute exactly the errors associated with our numerical methods. In these cases, we must settle for approximations or estimates of the errors.
• For example:
• A speedometer from an automobile indicates that the car is traveling between 48 and 49 km/h. One person might say 48.8, whereas another might say 48.9 km/h. Therefore, because of the limits of this instrument, only the first two digits can be used with confidence.
- Teacher: Oguche Samuel Michael



