Miscalculated

Miscalculated is an adjective describing a result or conclusion derived from calculation, measurement, or reasoning that turns out to be incorrect or flawed. It originates from the prefix mis- (wrong) and calculated, and is used across fields such as mathematics, science, engineering, finance, and policy. The noun form associated with it is miscalculation, which denotes the error itself.

In mathematics and computation, miscalculated results can arise from arithmetic mistakes, incorrect unit conversions, misapplied formulas, or rounding errors. In data analysis and modeling, miscalculations may stem from faulty data, sampling bias, incorrect assumptions, model misspecification, or extrapolation beyond the range of available information. The term can describe both isolated numerical errors and broader misjudgments in estimation or planning.

Consequences of miscalculations range from minor inconsistencies to significant impacts, including financial losses, safety risks, or misguided decisions. For example, a miscalculated budget forecast can lead to cost overruns, a miscalculated dosage in a clinical context can affect patient safety, and a miscalculated load in engineering may threaten structural integrity.

Prevention and detection rely on rigorous verification and review processes. Practices include independent checks, formal validation, unit testing, transparent data and formula provenance, sensitivity and uncertainty analysis, calibration, and peer review. Clear documentation of assumptions and methods helps identify potential miscalculations and facilitates correction. See also miscalculation, calculation error, arithmetic error.