Which parameter represents constant systematic error?

Which parameter represents constant systematic error?

• A. Slope
• B. Intercept
• C. R
• D. Y-intercept

Answer: (D)

Constant systematic error shows up as an additive bias that is the same regardless of the true value. In a linear calibration y = mx + c, y is the measured signal, x is the true value, m is the slope, and c is the intercept. The intercept represents the y-value when x is zero, i.e., the fixed offset added to every measurement. This offset is what we call the constant systematic error because it shifts all readings up or down by the same amount across the entire range. The slope would indicate proportional error, since it scales with the true value, and R just describes how well the data fit a line, not an error term. So the constant systematic error is represented by the y-intercept.

Constant systematic error shows up as an additive bias that is the same regardless of the true value. In a linear calibration y = mx + c, y is the measured signal, x is the true value, m is the slope, and c is the intercept. The intercept represents the y-value when x is zero, i.e., the fixed offset added to every measurement. This offset is what we call the constant systematic error because it shifts all readings up or down by the same amount across the entire range. The slope would indicate proportional error, since it scales with the true value, and R just describes how well the data fit a line, not an error term. So the constant systematic error is represented by the y-intercept.