On the Criterion of Proximity to the True Value: Information Approach

Abstract

What is the criterion of proximity to the true value of the measured value: absolute or relative error? The least squares method traditionally operates with absolute values of corrections to measured values, and the equalization is carried out under the condition of the minimum of the sum of squares of absolute corrections. However, as shown in the article, the informational approach leads to the conclusion that the measure of proximity to the true value is a relative measurement error. Therefore, it is advisable to carry out an equalization under the condition of a minimum of the sum of squares of not absolute, but relative corrections. This is equivalent to equalization, in which the weight of the correction depends on the size of the object being measured: the larger the object being measured, the smaller the weight of the corresponding amendment, and its value can be increased during equalization. In this case, the described approach leads to a kind of “method of least relative squares” (MLRS). Another interesting consequence of the information approach is that the relative measurement error modulus has the meaning of the probability of a measurement result deviating from the true value. The article presents the required information approach formulas for the weights of the amendments when using the MLRS. In particular, it is shown that the angular discrepancy distribution in a triangle depends on the lengths of the sides.