Miscalculating

Miscalculating is the act of producing an incorrect result from a calculation, estimation, or model due to errors in computation, data input, or reasoning. It encompasses arithmetic mistakes, incorrect use of formulas, faulty assumptions, and misinterpretation of inputs. While not always avoidable, miscalculations can be reduced through careful verification and transparent procedures.

Common causes include human error in performing calculations or transcribing numbers, misapplication of formulas or units, rounding and truncation, data quality issues, and cognitive biases such as overconfidence or anchoring. Software-related issues, such as bugs or limitations of floating-point arithmetic, can also introduce miscalculations in automated systems.

Types of miscalculations vary by domain. Arithmetic miscalculations involve basic operations or reading digits incorrectly; estimation errors arise from improper scaling or limitations of heuristics; statistical miscalculations can result from sampling bias, under- or over-fitting, or misinterpreted confidence intervals; in engineering, unit conversion mistakes or incorrect tolerances may occur.

Implications range from minor discrepancies to significant financial losses or safety risks. Prevention relies on checks such as independent verification, peer review, and unit testing; clear documentation of data, formulas, and assumptions; and the use of reliable tools. Maintaining an audit trail and performing sensitivity analyses can help detect, explain, and correct miscalculations before they lead to faulty conclusions or decisions.