Calculate your theoretical value by following the steps outlined in your experimental procedure. Enter the ideal quantities for each step. No physical work should be done at this point.
Find your experimental value by following the same steps as in step 1, only you will be physically measuring and performing the tasks as listed in the experimental procedure.
Subtract the theoretical value from step 1 from the experimental value in step 2.
experimental value - theoretical value
Now divide that difference by the theoretical value to get a decimal representation of percent error.
(experimental value - theoretical value) / theoretical value
Multiply the quotient from step 4 by 100 to obtain the percent error.
percent error = ([experimental value - theoretical value] / theoretical value) * 100