Folgefehler

Folgefehler is a term used to describe errors that occur in a series of steps and accumulate or propagate along a sequence. It denotes the phenomenon where an initial mistake or imprecision in an early stage leads to additional errors in later stages, often amplifying the total deviation from the true value. The concept is widely used in measurement science, numerical analysis, engineering, and data processing.

In measurement and metrology, Folgefehler arises when an initial measurement error biases subsequent calculations or derived quantities; its magnitude can depend on the functional relationship and on how data are transformed. In numerical computation, rounding and truncation errors compound with each operation, causing the final result to diverge from the exact value; this is sometimes discussed under error propagation or numerical stability.

Mitigation involves reducing the initial error, controlling conditioning, using error bounds, and applying techniques that minimize amplification, such as compensated arithmetic or robust data processing pipelines. In quality management, Folgefehler relates to cascading defects: a single defect in an input or process can trigger additional defects downstream.

See also: error propagation, cascading failure. The term emphasizes the temporal sequence aspect of errors and the need to consider the effect of early mistakes on later results.