公差

gōngchā / gōngchāi

noun #46,924

Meanings

1 tolerance (permitted margin of error)
2 common difference (of an arithmetic sequence)

Characters

difference; deviation

Examples

HSK 4

这个等差数列的公差是三。

Zhè ge děngchā shùliè de gōngchā shì sān.

The common difference of this arithmetic sequence is three.

HSK 7-9

这批零件的公差控制得很严。

Zhè pī língjiàn de gōngchā kòngzhì de hěn yán.

The tolerance on this batch of parts is tightly controlled.

HSK 7-9

加工误差必须在公差范围内。

Jiāgōng wùchā bìxū zài gōngchā fànwéi nèi.

The machining error has to stay inside the tolerance range.

Tips

mistakes

Read 差, the reading that means difference. Read it 差 and the word becomes 公差, an official errand or business trip, which has nothing to do with measurement.

usage

Two technical fields share this word. In manufacturing it is the deviation a part is allowed to have, as in 公差范围. In maths it is the step between consecutive terms of an 等差数列.

Stroke Order

公 gōng

差 chà