Question

Most probable value of a quantity

• A. always increases with increase in True value
• B. always decreases with decrease in True value
• C. is always equal to True value
• D. is nearest to True value

Hint:

When interpreting measurements, the most probable value is the one closest to the true value, even if it’s not exactly the same.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

The most probable value of a quantity is the value that best represents the true value in terms of measurements. It may not always be equal to the true value but is typically the value that is closest to the true value based on observed data.
Step 1: Understanding the context of the question. The most probable value is essentially the value that comes closest to the true value, even if it's not exactly equal. In many measurements, errors or variations occur, but the most probable value is usually the one that minimizes these errors.
Step 2: Evaluating the options. - Option (A) is incorrect because the most probable value does not always increase with an increase in the true value. It depends on the distribution of the observed values.
- Option (B) is also incorrect because the most probable value doesn’t always decrease with a decrease in the true value; it’s based on how the data is distributed.
- Option (C) is incorrect because the most probable value is not necessarily equal to the true value, as measurement errors and uncertainties exist.
- Option (D) is correct because the most probable value is typically the one that is nearest to the true value, as it reflects the most consistent and repeated measurements.
Thus, the correct answer is (D).