KIRBSTER269 proposed an interesting approximation of the actual value - You consider the two deviations from nominal, double the largest and add half the smallest. This works as an approximation to the actual value obtained using squares and square roots and it works pretty well until the deviations start to approach the same value. In the event that they are the same, the error in the approximation is about 33% of the largest deviation.
I was interested in the approximation scheme so I dug a little deeper and I found a "better" approximation. It is better in the sense that the largest error is only about 9% of the largest deviation. It is worse in the sense that it is not quite as simple, but it at least follows the same format. In my approximation, you multiply the largest deviation by 1.910 and add 0.828 times the smallest (instead of 2 and 0.5).
I wrote a short paper that goes through some of the mathematics if anybody is interested.
Kp61dude! The plots are simply screen captures from wolfram-alpha. I wrote the document using LaTeX. Thanks for the pointer to gnuplot, I will have to start checking that out.
If I recall correctly in gnuplot you can program it to export straight to your clipboard (or anything for that matter). I used gnuplot during college, I just love CLI applications (I think there's a version with a GUI if CLI is not your thing). I use Emacs org-mode when writing LaTex, it helps out a bunch and a half. The structure of org-mode just makes me happy and keeps my thoughts organized.
try explaining that to your co-workers, yeah I'm with you
Schlag I was just trying to help my fellow co-workers get close so I can take a vacation once in awhile Either my method was gonna work or I wish my co-workers good luck and hope not to come back from a vacation with a big mess when I walk in.
I am 1 of 2 people with the Y14.5 Cert in my company of 500 and the only one who has actually measured parts and developed processes to measure ( for 20 years as CMM guy and a machinist ). I default to the keep is simple..... Believe me, I am explaining all the time !
I consider myself waaaaaay more wise than smart ( For the other nerds out there...I am part of this group .Wisdom 18 / Intelligence 13 2nd edition rules) .