PANGASINAN STATE UNIVERSITY – URDANETA CAMPUS
Module in CE 211-ENGINEERING SURVEYS
TOPIC OUTLINE
A. Residual
B. Probable Error
C. Relative (Error)
Precision
D. Weighted Observations
E. Interrelationship of
Errors
1. Summation of Errors
2. Product of Errors
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
1. To be able to learn what is
Residual.
2. To be able to learn the
concept of Probable Error.
3. To be able to learn what is
Weighted Observations.
4. To be able to learn the
Interrelationship of Errors.
OVERVIEW
Probable error defines the
half-range of an interval about
a central point for the
distribution, such that half of
the values from the
distribution will lie within
the interval and half outside.
And relative precision in
sampling refers to the ratio of
the error variances of two
different sample designs which
have the same sampling unit and
sample size. When used in this
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Module No. 03
way, RP is also
called relative efficiency.
SURVEY 1: FUNDAMENTALS
OF SURVEYING
RESIDUAL
The residual, which is
sometimes referred to as the
deviation, is defined as the
difference between any measured
value of quantity and its most
probable value or
v = x -x . . . . . . . Eq. (1)
Where v is the residual in any
measurement, x is a measurement
made of a particular quantity,
and x is the most probable
value of the quantity measured.
Residuals and errors are
theoretically identical. The
only difference is that
residuals can be calculated
whereas errors cannot because
there is no way of knowing true
values.
Probable Error
The probable error is a
quantity which, when added to
and subtracted from the most
probable value, defines a range
within which there is a 50
percent chance that the true
value of the measured quantity
lies inside (or outside) the
limits thus set.
The value of the probable
error is calculated with the
use of the following formulae
which are derived from the
method of least squares.
∑𝑽
PEs = ± 0.6745 √𝒏−𝟏 .
𝟐
. Eq. (2)
∑𝑽𝟐
PEm = ± 0.6745 √ . Eq. (3)
𝒏 (𝒏−𝟏)
PANGASINAN STATE UNIVERSITY – URDANETA CAMPUS
Module in CE 211-ENGINEERING SURVEYS
Where
PEs = probable error of
any single measurement of
a series.
PEm = probable error of
the mean
∑V2 = summation of the
squares of the residuals
n = number of observations
RELATIVE (ERROR) PRECISION
The total amount of error in a
given measurement should relate
to the magnitude of measured
quantity in order to indicate
the accuracy of a measurement.
In surveying measurements,
ratio of the error to the
measured quantity is used to
define the degree of refinement
obtained.
Relative error, sometimes
called relative precision, is
expressed by a fraction having
the magnitude of the error in
the numerator and the magnitude
of a measured quantity in the
denominator. It is necessary to
express both quantities in the
same units, and the numerator
is reduced to unity or 1 in
order to provide any easy
comparison with other
measurements. For example, if
for a particular measurement
the probable error of the mean
is 0.10m and the most probable
value of the measurement is
235.50m, the relative precision
(RP) would be expressed as
0.10/235.50 or 1/2355, also
written as 1:2355.
WEIGHTED OBSERVATIONS
It is not always possible to
obtain measurements of equal
reliability under similar
conditions. Many surveying
measurements are made under
different circumstances and
conditions and therefore have
different degrees of
reliability.
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Module No. 03
The problem often
encountered is how to combine
these measurements and
determine the most probable
values. For such a situation it
is necessary to estimate the
degree of reliability (or
weight) for each of the
measurements before they are
combined, and the most probable
values are determined.
INTERRELATIONSHIP OF ERRORS
In some instances it is
required to determine how the
final result is affected when a
computation involves quantities
that are subject to accidental
errors. Two commonly applied
principles of the theory of
errors involve the summation of
errors and the product of
errors.
1. Summation of Errors. If
several measured
quantities are added, each
of which is affected by
accidental errors, the
probable error of the sum
is given by the square
root of the sum of the
squares of the separate
probable errors arising
from the several sources
or
PEs = ± √𝑃𝐸12 + 𝑃𝐸22 + ⋯ … . 𝑃𝐸𝑛2
Where
PEs = probable error of
the sum
PE1, PE2, etc. = probable
error of measurement
n = number of values added
2. Product of Errors. For a
measured quantity which is
determined as the product
of two other independently
measured quantities such
as Q1 and Q2 (with their
corresponding probable
errors), the probable
error of the product is
PANGASINAN STATE UNIVERSITY – URDANETA CAMPUS
Module in CE 211-ENGINEERING SURVEYS Module No. 03

given by the following v4=(X4-X) =1000.48-

equation. 1000.45= +0.03
v5=(X5-X) =1000.40-
PEp=± √(𝑄1𝑥𝑃𝐸1)2 + (𝑄2𝑥𝑃𝐸2)2 … …
1000.45= -0.05 v6=(X6-X)
=1000.46-1000.45= +0.01
Where
PEp = probable error v12 = (+0.13)2 = 0.0169
of the product v22 = (-0.05)2 = 0.0025
Q1 & Q2 = measured v32 = (-0.07)2 = 0.0049
Quantities v42 = (+0.03)2 = 0.0009
PE1 and PE2 = v52 = (-0.05)2 = 0.0025
probable error v62 = (+0.01)2 = 0.0001
corresponding to each
quantity measured. ∑v2 = v12 + v22 + v32 + v42 + v52 + v62
=
ILLUSTRATIVE PROBLEM 0.0169+0.0025+0.0049+0.0009+0.0
025+0.0001
Probable Error. The following = 0.0278
values were determined in the
series of tape measurements of
∑𝑉 2
a line: 1000.58, 1000.40, PEs = ± 0.6745 √𝑛−1
1000.38, 1000.48, 1000.40 and
0.0278
1000.46 meters, Determine the = ± 0.6745 √ (6−1)
following:
a. Most probable value of the = ±0.05m (probable error
measured length of a single measurement)
b. Probable error at single
measurement and probable PEm = ± 0.6745 √𝑛 (𝑛−1)
∑𝑉 2
error of the mean
c. Final expression for the 0.0278
= ± 0.6745 √6(6−1)
most probable length
d. Relative precision of the = ±0.02m (probable
measurement error of the mean)

Solution: c. Therefore the length of

the measured line may be
a. n=6 (number of expressed as 1000.45 m ±
observations) 0.02m. This means that
∑X=X1+ X2+ X3+ X4+ X5 there is a 50 percent
=1000.58+1000.40+1000.38+1 chance that the true
000.48+1000.40+1000.46 distance measured probably
= 6002.70m falls between 1000.43m and
1000.47m, and that its
mpv = ∑X/n most probable value is
mpv = 1000.45 (most 1000.45m. There is also,
probable value of the however: a 50 percent
measured length) chance that the true
distance lies outside this
b. v1=(X1-X) =1000.58- range.
1000.45= +0.13
v2=(X2-X) =1000.40- d. RPs = PEs/mpv
1000.45= -0.05
v3=(X3-X) =1000.38- = 0.05/1000.45
1000.45= -0.07

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PANGASINAN STATE UNIVERSITY – URDANETA CAMPUS
Module in CE 211-ENGINEERING SURVEYS Module No. 03

= 1/20,000 (RP of the coefficient of correlation

single measurement) obtained by giving two forms of
the test to the same group, or
e. RPm = PEm/mpv to use the probable error of
= 0.02/1000.45 estimate of score between the
= 1/50,000 (RP of two forms. The probable error
the mean) of measurement has the value of
stability, as is shown by the
fact that the same value will
LEARNING ACTIVITY be found for it whether a
single group or a composite
group is used. This is found to
be true neither with the
Weighted Measurements. Four coefficient of correlation as a
measurements of a distance were measure of reliability, nor
recorded as 284.18, 284.19, with the probable error of
284.22, and 284.20 meters and estimate.
given weights of 1, 3, 2, and
4, respectively. Determine the
weighted mean.
REFERENCES
Measured Assigned P= X (W)
Length Weight
(X) (W) Elementary Surveying
284.18m 1 284.18 Alfeo La Putt
284.19m 3 852.57
284.22m 2 568.44
284.20m 4 1136.80
Sum ∑W=10 ∑P=2841.99 Prepared by:

ENGR. ELMAR T. ANTOLIN

Probable Error. The following Faculty, Civil Engineering
values were determined in the Department
series of tape measurements of College of Engineering and
a line: 950.56, 950.40, 950.18, Architecture
950.44, 950.11 and 950.64
meters, Determine the
following:

a. Most probable value of the

measured length
b. Probable error at single
measurement and probable
error of the mean

SUMMARY

The probable error of

measurement as the best
criterion of the reliability of
an educational test; the
alternate methods being to use