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truncation error

truncation error

8.2
A mistake that happens when a calculation is stopped early and numbers or parts are left out
  • noun
  • /trʌŋˈkeɪʃən ˈɛrər/
  • Specialized
translation icon : error de truncamiento
  • When performing numerical calculations, it is important to minimize the truncation error to ensure accurate results.

Examples

  • What you need to make delta X small enough that the truncation error is small, but not so small that the round off errors kill you.

  • The numerical error could be further decomposed into discretization error, truncation error (in reduced-order modeling), round-off error, etc.

    Academic text (2018)
  • This number can be determined from the exponent to be reduced, so we have a useful bound on the total truncation error.

    Academic text (1999)
  • A significant truncation error may arise if the calculation is stopped too early, leading to incorrect conclusions.

  • Engineers often face truncation error when simplifying complex equations during their simulations.

Synonyms

error
vstruncation error
  • Specialized
300 3.0

A computer problem that makes a program give a wrong result or stop

is a specific numerical case caused by stopping a calculation early
miscalculation
vstruncation error
30 4.2

A wrong estimate of numbers or plans that causes problems

is produced when a calculation stops early and omits digits or terms
inaccuracy
vstruncation error
24 4.9

A mistake in information or measurement

describes a real calculation stopped early that omits digits or terms
misreckoning
vstruncation error
9.5

An error in calculating numbers or amounts

is caused when a calculation is cut short rather than by wrong estimation

Antonyms

169 3.8

How close a measurement or statement is to the correct value

Surface Forms

Morphology

truncation + error

The meaning 'an error caused by shortening or omitting part of a calculation' is directly and compositionally derivable from 'truncation' (shortening by removing part) + 'error' (an incorrect result). This noun–noun technical compound follows a transparent formation and would be understandable to a learner who knows both constituent words.

Etymology

Truncation error comes from the image of truncation as 'cutting off' the end of a number or calculation and the word error meaning a mistake. That's why the term means the small mistake that happens when you stop a calculation early or drop digits.