Finding Uncertainty Given A Range

[George Kefalas 1D]

Hello, I was wondering if anyone knows how to conceptually and mathematically derive uncertainty given a range like 5m +/- 5. I understand 10 is the uncertainty of position, but I've been reading different approaches to this. Some people say to multiply the variation (whatever follows the +/-) by 2. I thought of it as a range where the lowest possibility is 0 and the highest is 10. Are both of these correct, or is there a better way to think of this?

[906155996]

I believe that both ways would be correct, yet I had been using the multiplying of the variation method!

[Sam Lam]

Both of which would be correct because you still end up with the same number. But i believe that the multiplying route is best because it allows you to think about it more as a uncertainty value that extends to both sides of the number vs a range that could be 10 over the original number etc.

[irisgu]

Hi, both methods seem correct in theory. I would recommend using the mathematical approach because multiplying the uncertainty range by a scalar as opposed to just adding an extension to either side.