Accuracy of Component Measurements and System Predictions

Abstract

IN the Introduction and the tutorials of Chapters 9, 10, and 11 the subdomains for component testing were not chosen to obtain accurate approximations or good predictions of system properties. Subdomains were chosen instead to clearly illustrate features of the SYN tools. In the theoretical limit as subdomains approach singletons, the approximations and predictions should be exact, perfectly accurate. This chapter investigates the relationship between subdomain choice and accuracy for cases between those extremes. In general, better accuracy can be obtained by adjusting subdomains, and the SYN component-measurement tools can help to make the right adjustments, but there are a few surprises. The underlying reason for studying accuracy is to investigate the possibility of predicting and using safety factors in software development.