Accurate and Precise Measurements in building a staircase

Sam Robertson D. Pelegrino

Introduction
In an article published in Olympia, U.S.A, a study of Daniel Johnson and
Gary Sloan entitled Measuring step geometry using the Nose-to-nose method:
Validity and repeatability state that accurate and precise measurement of stairway
geometry is important in order to establish whether a stairway meets design goals,
standards, and codes. Thus, the measurements should be as accurate nor precise
as possible so that it can’t cause any injury-producing fall because of a too steep
staircase. According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission National
Electronic Injury Surveillance System that here has been about a 40 percent
increase in home stairways since the middle 1990s. From this, the traditional
method of measuring risers (height) and runs (length) will be a lead factor to lessen
those different kinds of injuries.
Objectives
In this experiment, we will define the importance of accurate and precise
measurements in building a staircase by considering the result of different
manipulation of data. It will also discuss the different mathematical computation
and analysis of data of the measured value from each step of the stair of Senior
High School (SHS) PBSP Building in related to uncertainties to show that it has a
high degree of validity. Additionally, the statistics such as the mean, standard
deviation and standard error, graph of the measured value, its slope and y-
intercept will define the relationship of data to uncertainty and error.
Background
In architecture, the term precision and accuracy according to Costantino
Caciagli in the sense of respect to order or exactness says everything and nothing.
In fact, accuracy and precision can be used in reference to more diverse aspects
such as executing measurement, forming data, and programmable functions, but
we could never arrive at an exact measure value. Accordingly, we can now
determine the uncertainty and error of such values.
In order to interpret data and draw conclusions, the uncertainty will always
be indicated. For the result of measurement to be more meaningful, an indication
of accurate and precise should always be consider associated with this estimated
value. Uncertainty is a parameter characterizing the range of values within which
the value of the measure and can be said to lie within a specified level of
confidence. And an error is the difference between the measurements and the
measured value.
Statistically, we get the mathematical expectation or average of data set or
the Mean, this is the central value of a discrete set of numbers. This central
tendency will be most likely the expected measurement of each step in stairs. But,
to tell how those measurements are spread out from the mean, we will get the
standard deviation. Additionally, a low standard deviation means that the most
measured values are close to the average or vice versa. To get the percentage of
how those measurements are accurate within the mean, solving for standard error
is a great help. In graphing the measurements, we should consider how we will
plot the minimum nor maximum points in both x and y-axis. Then, consider the
slope and y-intercept to determine where your best fit line will go through, in either
right or left. From this, we can now define those terms in related to uncertainty and
error from the following parts.

Methods
Each group from the class with 7 to 8 members were given an activity sheet
about the Uncertainty and Error. They were assigned in different stairs from 1st
floor to the 3rd floor of SHS PBSP Building. Leaders are the one who first tests the
procedure of measuring the length and height of each step of stairs and later on
disseminate to their respective members. Material needed is the Orion 12’’ ruler
which used to measure the length and height (in centimeters) of the first 10 steps
from the 1st floor.
The step – by – step process of the experiment was as follows:
1. Measure the height and length of every step of the stairs assigned to your
group.
2. Do the measurement three times by one of the members.
3. Tabulate your result.
4. Repeat step 1 and step 2 but having the measurements by three different
people. One of the three should be the member who took the measurement
in steps 1 and 2.
5. Calculate for the mean and standard deviation of each set of
measurements.
6. Calculate for the standard error in the mean.
7. Using your tabulated values; present your data in graph applying our lesson
in line fitting. Find the equation of the line that fits the data with the least
error.
Results
Table 1. Measured Length and Height from Trial 1 to Trial 3 of the 1st Person

1st Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3

Person
Length Height Length Height Length Height
1 47.5 15.5 47 14.8 48.1 14.5
2 37.2 13.7 37 15.9 38 13.2
3 37.5 16.8 37.6 16.6 36.4 16.5
4 38 15.4 37.8 15.6 36.9 15
5 38.2 16.8 37.4 16.5 37 16.8
6 38 16 38.2 15.8 37.8 16
7 37.9 17.4 37 17.3 37 17
8 36.5 16 36.6 15.8 36.5 15.9
9 38 16.3 38.1 15.9 38 16.5
10 34.5 16.8 34.6 17 34.9 16.8
Mean 38.33 16.07 38.13 16.12 38.06 15.82
Standard 3.23 0.99 3.11 0.7 3.46 1.09
Deviation
Standard 1.02 0.31 0.98 0.22 1.09 0.37
Error

Table 2. Measured Length and Height of Trial 1 of the 2nd Person and 3rd Person
2nd Person 3rd Person
Trial 1 Trial 2

Length Height Length Height

1 47 14.6 47 14.8
2 37.1 13.6 36.7 13.7
3 37.3 16.5 37.3 16.5
4 37.5 15.5 36.5 15.7
5 37.2 16.7 37.2 16.2
6 38.5 16 38.2 15.4
7 37 17.2 36.9 16.8
8 36.8 15.8 36.4 15.8
9 37.8 16.3 38.1 16.1
10 34.6 16.7 34 17
Mean 38.08 15.89 37.82 15.8
Standard 3.12 1.03 3.25 0.94
Deviation
Standard 0.99 0.33 1.03 0.30
Error
 Table 3. Equation of the line that fits the data with least error of 1st Person Trial 1

1st
Person x y xy x2 Best Fitting Line
1st Person (Trial 1) y = -0.0604x + 18.386
Trial 1 (length) (height)
18
1 47.5 15.5 736.25 2256.25
2 37.2 13.7 509.64 1383.84
3 37.5 16.8 630 1406.25 16

HEIGHT
4 38 15.4 585.2 1444
5 38.2 16.8 641.76 1459.24
14
6 38 16 608 1444
7 37.9 17.4 659.46 1436.41
8 36.5 16 584 1332.25 12
9 38 16.3 619.4 1444 30 35 40 45 50
10 34.5 16.8 579.6 1190.25 LENGTH
Sum 383.3 160.7 6153.31 14796.49

Table 4. Equation of the line that fits the data with least error of 1st Person Trial 2

1st
Person x y xy x2 Best Fitting Line
Trial 2 (length) (height) 1st Person (Trial 2) y = -0.1628x + 22.328
17.5
1 47 14.8 695.6 2209 17
2 37 15.9 588.3 1369
3 37.6 16.6 624.16 1413.76 16.5
HEIGHT

4 37.8 15.6 589.68 1428.84 16

5 37.4 16.5 617.1 1398.76
15.5
6 38.2 15.8 603.56 1459.24
7 37 17.3 640.1 1369 15
8 36.6 15.8 578.28 1339.56
14.5
9 38.1 15.9 605.79 1451.61
30 35 40 45 50
10 34.6 17 588.2 1197.16 LENGTH
Sum 381.3 161.2 6130.77 14635.93
 Table 5. Equation of the line that fits the data with least error of 1st Person Trial 3

1st
Person x y xy x2 Best Fitting Line
Trial 3 (length) (height) 1st Person (Trial 3) y = -0.1577x + 21.823
1 48.1 14.5 697.45 2313.61 18
2 38 13.2 501.6 1444 17
3 36.4 16.5 600.6 1324.96 16

HEIGHT
4 36.9 15 553.5 1361.61
15
5 37 16.8 621.6 1369
6 37.8 16 604.8 1428.84 14
7 37 17 629 1369 13
8 36.5 15.9 580.35 1332.25 12
9 38 16.5 627 1444 30 35 40 45 50
10 34.9 16.8 586.32 1218.01 LENGTH
Sum 380.6 158.2 6002.22 14605.28

Table 6. Equation of the line that fits the data with least error of 2nd Person Trial 1

2nd
Person x y xy x2 Best Fitting Line
Trial 1 (length) (height) 2nd Person (Trial1) y = -0.1479x + 21.524
1 47 14.6 686.2 2209 18
2 37.1 13.6 504.56 1376.41 17
3 37.3 16.5 615.45 1391.29
16
4 37.5 15.5 581.25 1406.25
HEIGHT

5 37.2 16.7 621.24 1383.84 15

6 38.5 16 616 1482.25 14
7 37 17.2 636.4 1369 13
8 36.8 15.8 581.44 1354.24
12
9 37.8 16.3 616.14 1428.84 30 35 40 45 50
10 34.6 16.7 577.82 1197.16
LENGTH
Sum 380.8 158.9 6036.5 14598.28
 Table 7. Equation of the line that fits the data with least error of 3rd Person Trial 1

3rd
Person x y xy x2 Best Fitting Line
3rd Person (Trial 1) y = -0.1222x + 20.421
Trial1 (length) (height)
1 47 14.8 695.6 2209 18
2 36.7 13.7 502.79 1346.89 17
3 37.3 16.5 615.45 1391.29 16

HEIGHT
4 36.5 15.7 573.05 1332.25
15
5 37.1 16.2 601.02 1376.41
6 38.2 15.4 588.28 1459.24 14
7 36.9 16.8 619.92 1361.61 13
8 36.4 15.8 575.12 1324.96 12
9 38.1 16.1 613.41 1451.61 30 35 40 45 50
10 34 17 578 1156 LENGTH
Sum 378.2 158 5962.64 14409.26

Discussion of Results
Results from Table 1 and Table 2 of the experiment shows the arithmetic
mean which will be most likely the actual or standard measurement of each step
in stairs. In showing its uncertainty, from the measurement of length and height of
Trial 1 of the 1st person, the mean is 16.07 cm and 38.33 cm respectively. Its
uncertainty will be 16.07 +/- 2.37 cm for height since 13.7 is the absolute
uncertainty which has a high range of value from the expected value or the mean.
Consequently, 38.33 +/- 9.17 for the measured length. From the same example,
measurement lengths have lower relative uncertainty with 14.75% it means that
those measurements are precise while for measure heights, it has 23.92% of
uncertainty which means it’s not that precise and accurate as of the measured
lengths. The standard deviation of the same example are 3.23 and 0.99 for length
and height respectively, this just shows that if you computed for lower standard
deviation it is more close to the average mean, therefore, it is precise nor accurate.
This will have the same case as the result of standard error.
In two dimensional case, the line of best fit used to study the nature of two
different variables. This refer to a line that best represents the data on a scatter
plot. This line may pass through in none of the points, some of the points or all the
points but still, it provides and supports what this study all about. From the above
example, Table 3 to Table 7, the important factor is the line which fits all the
measurements (length and width), this only proves that accurate and precise
measurements should be considered as your variable in building any structures
like a step in the stair.
Conclusion
Based on accumulating data, information, and numerical values, the
following conclusion may be drawn:
1. The accurate and precise measurements are important in building a
staircase in order to establish its desired goal and standard quality
2. The uncertainty and error of measured values or the arithmetic mean show
a high degree of validity in considering the measurements of length and
height.
3. The statistics – mean, standard deviation, and standard error – indicate on
how measurements are accurate and precise from the mathematical
expectation.

References:
https://www.nde-ed.org/GeneralResources/ErrorAnalysis/UncertaintyTerms.htm
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/introchem/chapter/accuracy-precision-and-
error/
https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/9985/8d905625fad1be163c9e2943b2e7f49299a
7.pdf
https://content.iospress.com/download/work/wor0603?id=work%2Fwor0603
https://www.varsitytutors.com/hotmath/hotmath_help/topics/line-of-best-fit
LINK:
https://www.paperrater.com/proofreader/plag_results?ticket=621c483ecc33715a9c69f
3469