- #1
peripatein
- 880
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I have tried finding a table's length using two methods. Both should be applicable, as using a ruler implies uniform distribution, does it not? The first method involved calculating the mean length from a set of measurements, finding the variance, and substituting it in the formula for the total uncertainty, namely sqrt((variance/N) + (ruler's resolution)^2).
The second method involved using the formulae for uniform distribution to find the mean and deviation.
The results were different. I am 100% certain the first method is correct. But why would the uniform distribution formulae not be applicable in this case?
The second method involved using the formulae for uniform distribution to find the mean and deviation.
The results were different. I am 100% certain the first method is correct. But why would the uniform distribution formulae not be applicable in this case?