When calculating percent error, what does it mean if I get a negative number for mass?

Question

Jeremiah Adams · Accepted Answer

It means that the experimental mass is greater than the accepted mass. However, mass cannot be negative. Refer to the explanation.

If you are calculating percent error, the difference between the experimental value and the accepted value is an absolute value; therefore, even if you get a negative number in your calculation, it is positive because it is an absolute value. It indicates that the experimental mass is greater than the accepted mass, but mass is always positive. It should be noted that the accepted value is sometimes referred to as the theoretical value, and the experimental value as the actual value. #"% error" = abs((("accepted value")- ("experimental value"))/( "accepted value"))xx100%# #"% error"=abs((("theoretical value")-("actual value"))/("theoretical value"))xx100%# Observe that the absolute value bars in the aforementioned formulas signify that the difference between the two values is positive, and that the absolute value of the difference is independent of the order in which the two values are entered.

Mateo Aguilar · Answer

undefined Negative percent error implies an underestimation or discrepancy in the measured value compared to the accepted value.