Question

Walter is planning a hiking trip and he estimated the gradient of trail to be 213.6 ft/mile. After hiking and tracking the trail, he found that the trail was actually 202.7 ft/mile. What was his percent error? Did he overestimate or underestimate the gradient?

Answer 1

Answer: His percent error = 5.38 %

He overestimated the gradient.

Step-by-step explanation:

Formula : $Percent\ error =\dfrac{|Estimated\ value- Actual\ value|}{Actual\ value}\times100$

Given, Estimated gradient of trail  = 213.6 ft/mile

Actual gradient of trail  =  202.7 ft/mile

Since,  213.6 > 202.7 , that means he overestimated the gradient.

Percent error: $\dfrac{|213.6-202.7|}{202.7}\times100$

$=\dfrac{10.9}{202.7}\times100\\\\\approx5.38\%$

Hence, percent error = 5.38 %