Subject Parameter and Measuring Resolution Error Worksheets 
These drill-down worksheets provide a useful tool for evaluating measurement uncertainty due to resolution error.  The Subject or Measuring Parameter Resolution Error Worksheet is accessed by clicking the Resolution button on the Parameter Uncertainty Worksheet Error Source table.  Separate worksheets are opened and saved for the subject parameter and measuring parameter.

Display Type

You can choose either the Analog or Digital display type. The corresponding input information and computed resolution uncertainty are dependent upon which display type has been selected.  For analog displays, the resolution error is assumed to be normally distributed. The resolution uncertainty is computed by setting the resolution error limits equal to ± half the smallest increment of resolution and a user specified confidence level that readings fall within the limits.

For digital displays, the resolution error is assumed to be uniformly distributed.  The resolution limits are also set equal to ± half of the smallest digital resolution displayed (i.e., smallest increment of resolution). In this case, the confidence level is equal to 100%. 

Smallest Increment of Resolution
The limit of indicated resolution is entered in the Smallest Increment of Resolution box.  For example, consider a ruler with a 1 mm analog resolution as the smallest increment of resolution. If the resolution units are in mm, then the smallest increment of resolution is 1 mm. However, if the resolution units are in cm, then the smallest increment of resolution is 0.1 cm.