Principles of Approximate Computations (Classic Reprint) - Hardcover

Joseph J. Skinner

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0267637144 ISBN 13: 9780267637140

Publisher: Forgotten Books, 2019

Synopsis

Master the art of accurate math with imperfect data

In this classic guide, you’ll learn practical rules for computing with numbers that aren’t exact. It shows how to estimate errors and keep results trustworthy, even when measurements or instruments limit precision.

Designed for engineers, scientists, and students, this edition translates real‑world measurement challenges into clear, usable rules. You’ll find simple ways to decide how many digits to keep, how to bound errors, and how to compare different ways of calculating. The approach emphasizes overestimating errors to avoid overstating accuracy, and it provides concrete procedures for addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and more complex computations.

Explore how to determine acceptable limits of error, how to approximate products and roots within controlled tolerances, and how to evaluate the reliability of a final result. The text organizes problems, formulas, and examples in a practical framework so you can apply the methods to your own work without getting bogged down in theory.

• Learn how to assign absolute and relative errors and propagate them through calculations.
• Understand how many significant figures are needed for reliable results in division, multiplication, and roots.
• See step‑by‑step rules for abridged calculations that stay within a chosen error bound.
• Apply the methods to complex expressions and polynomials with limited precision data.

Ideal for readers who value rigorous yet approachable guidance on precision in computation.

Edition details

• Publisher: Forgotten Books
• Publication date: 2019
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0267637144
• ISBN 13: 9780267637140
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 110