Description
Convert preserved length into an original-length estimate and a supplied retention-factor uncertainty envelope.
Insect morphology measurements depend on landmark definitions, image scale and specimen condition. A length ratio can be dimensionless while a calibrated coordinate has physical units; neither arithmetic operation validates anatomical correspondence or preservation assumptions.
Convert preserved length into an original-length estimate and a supplied retention-factor uncertainty envelope.
When to use this tool
Use Insect Body Length Preservation Factor when checking a supplied morphological measurement, calibration or length ratio.
How to use the tool and how it works
- Enter preservedLength, retainedFraction, uncertaintyFraction. Use the units and conventions below.
- Run the tool. Correct any format, range, or cross-field input error before interpreting the output.
- Read estimatedOriginalLength, lowerLength, upperLength. Use the output convention below.
Require nonnegative preservedLength and uncertaintyFraction, with retainedFraction > uncertaintyFraction. estimatedOriginalLength = preservedLength/retainedFraction; lowerLength divides by retainedFraction+uncertaintyFraction and upperLength by retainedFraction-uncertaintyFraction.1
| Input field | Meaning and units | Accepted input |
|---|---|---|
| preservedLength | Preserved Length | Required. Finite number; minimum 0. |
| retainedFraction | Retained Fraction | Required. Finite number; strictly above 0. |
| uncertaintyFraction | Uncertainty Fraction | Required. Finite number; minimum 0. |
| Output field | Interpretation | Returned shape |
|---|---|---|
| estimatedOriginalLength | Estimated Original Length | Required. Finite number. |
| lowerLength | Lower Length | Required. Finite number. |
| upperLength | Upper Length | Required. Finite number. |
{
"input": {
"preservedLength": 9,
"retainedFraction": 0.9,
"uncertaintyFraction": 0.1
},
"output": {
"estimatedOriginalLength": 10,
"lowerLength": 9,
"upperLength": 11.25
}
}Limitations and assumptions
- Retention is preserved/original length. The supplied symmetric factor half-width yields arithmetic bounds, not statistical confidence limits; retainedFraction is not capped at one.
- Inputs must satisfy both the field types and the cross-field conditions above. Invalid input causes an error; a successful false flag or documented placeholder is a different result.
- Numeric calculations use binary floating point unless exact decimal-integer arithmetic is explicitly stated. No hidden measurement tolerance or decimal rounding is added; nonfinite or out-of-contract results are rejected. Numeric signed-zero results are exported as zero.
Alternative or Complementary methods
Use verified imaging calibration and appropriate specimen methods for anatomical interpretation, and propagate uncertainty when measurement precision matters.
References
Similar or alternative tools
- Insect Body Length Scale Factor
lengthPerPixel = suppliedRulerLength/rulerPixels; physicalLength = bodyPixels*lengthPerPixel.
- Insect Antennal Segment Length Ratio
Summarize segment lengths with a selected segment’s total-length fraction and the first longest index.