Exam-style question
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In what scenario would high precision but low accuracy be observed?.
- A.When measurements cluster closely together but are far from the true value
- B.When measurements are widely spread but average close to the true value
- C.When all measurements are exactly equal to the true value
- D.When measurements vary significantly with no consistent pattern
Model answer
What a good answer should say
- When measurements cluster closely together but are far from the true value
Explanation
Why this works
High precision but low accuracy occurs when repeated measurements yield similar results (cluster closely together) but do not reflect the true value. The key difference is that precision indicates consistency among measurements, while accuracy indicates correctness.
This scenario applies when a systematic error is present, affecting all measurements similarly, leading to consistent but incorrect results. Therefore, the correct answer illustrates a situation where precision does not guarantee accuracy.
Common mistake
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