# Precise Measurements By:: [[Lori Zieg]] 2023-07-12 I recently took my oldest child to the pediatrician for her annual exam. She’s old enough that she is most likely done growing, but it is still too soon to say for sure. As with most medical appointments, they kicked things off by measuring her. They used the typical type of medical measuring device attached to a scale. It had an adjustable arm that they could bring down to the top of her head, and they could then read the corresponding measurement on the ruler protruding from the top of the scale. They discovered that my daughter is a quarter of an inch shorter than she was at her appointment last year. Clearly, a 15-year-old did not shrink over a year. Rather, the measurement illustrates that this method yields an imprecise result. I struggle to think of a time when a quarter of an inch in height for an adolescent would make a difference. Therefore, this imprecise method of measurement is sufficient for the needs of an annual medical exam. As analysts, we need to be aware of when the situation calls for a precise measurement and when a reasonable estimate will yield the same conclusions and is, therefore, sufficient. #### Related Items [[Measurement]] [[Metrics]] [[Accuracy]] [[Analytics]]