Uncertainty formula for division

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$$(A \pm a) \times (B \pm b)=AB\left(1 \pm \frac aA \pm \frac bB\right)$$

Here is the formula im struggling with, I'm just trying to apply this formula for division (i.e for speed, $\frac dt$, instead of momentum $mv$). How would I apply this formula for when $B = \frac 1B$ ? I have discovered that if you were to change AB to $\frac AB$, and remain $a$ and $b$ as if you were to use the formula to multiply $AB$ instead of $\frac AB$, you'd arrive at the correct solution. But, wouldn't you have to use the uncertainty of $B$ in the form of $\frac 1B$ – which I don't know how to find ?

Best Answer

In both multiplication and division, it is the fractional uncertainties which add in quadrature. That is,

\begin{align} (A±a)×(B±b) &=AB×\left( 1±\frac aA \right) \left( 1±\frac bB \right) \end{align}

From the binomial theorem you can say

$$ \left( B+b \right)^{-n} ≈ B^{-n}\left( 1-n\frac bB \right) $$

So if for instance you have fractional uncertainty $b/B≈1\%$, the inverse $C=B^{-1}$ will also have fractional uncertainty $1\%$. This is also the origin of the rule for propagating uncertainties through other exponents.

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