A figure of merit (FOM) is a performance metric that characterizes the performance of a device, system, or method, relative to its alternatives.
Examples
- Accuracy of a rifle
- Audio amplifier figures of merit such as gain or efficiency
- Battery life of a laptop computer
- Calories per serving
- Clock rate of a CPU is often given as a figure of merit, but is of limited use in comparing between different architectures. FLOPS may be a better figure, though these too are not completely representative of the performance of a CPU.
- Contrast ratio of an LCD
- Frequency response of a speaker
- Fill factor of a solar cell
- Resolution of the image sensor in a digital camera
- Measure of the detection performance of a sonar system, defined as the propagation loss for which a 50% detection probability is achieved
- Noise figure of a radio receiver
- The thermoelectric figure of merit, zT, a material constant proportional to the efficiency of a thermoelectric couple made with the material
- The figure of merit of digital-to-analog converter, calculated as (power dissipation)/(2ENOB × effective bandwidth) [J/Hz]
- Luminous efficacy of lighting
- Profit of a company
- Residual noise remaining after compensation in an aeromagnetic survey
- Heat absorption and transfer quality for a solar cooker
Computational benchmarks are synthetic figures of merit that summarize the speed of algorithms or computers in performing various typical tasks.
References
- Olivieri, Alejandro C.; Escandar, Graciela M. (2014), "Analytical Figures of Merit", Practical Three-Way Calibration, Elsevier, pp. 93–107, doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-410408-2.00006-5, ISBN 978-0-12-410408-2, retrieved 2022-03-24
- Allegrini, Franco; Olivieri, Alejandro C. (2020), "Figures of Merit", Comprehensive Chemometrics, Elsevier, pp. 441–463, doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-409547-2.14612-8, ISBN 978-0-444-64166-3, S2CID 193125279, retrieved 2022-03-24
- Minshall, David. "Measuring Accuracy". Research Press. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
- Decoding Battery Life For Laptops New York Times, June 25, 2009
Look up figure of merit in Wiktionary the free dictionary A figure of merit FOM is a performance metric that characterizes the performance of a device system or method relative to its alternatives ExamplesAccuracy of a rifle Audio amplifier figures of merit such as gain or efficiency Battery life of a laptop computer Calories per serving Clock rate of a CPU is often given as a figure of merit but is of limited use in comparing between different architectures FLOPS may be a better figure though these too are not completely representative of the performance of a CPU Contrast ratio of an LCD Frequency response of a speaker Fill factor of a solar cell Resolution of the image sensor in a digital camera Measure of the detection performance of a sonar system defined as the propagation loss for which a 50 detection probability is achieved Noise figure of a radio receiver The thermoelectric figure of merit zT a material constant proportional to the efficiency of a thermoelectric couple made with the material The figure of merit of digital to analog converter calculated as power dissipation 2ENOB effective bandwidth J Hz Luminous efficacy of lighting Profit of a company Residual noise remaining after compensation in an aeromagnetic survey Heat absorption and transfer quality for a solar cooker Computational benchmarks are synthetic figures of merit that summarize the speed of algorithms or computers in performing various typical tasks ReferencesOlivieri Alejandro C Escandar Graciela M 2014 Analytical Figures of Merit Practical Three Way Calibration Elsevier pp 93 107 doi 10 1016 b978 0 12 410408 2 00006 5 ISBN 978 0 12 410408 2 retrieved 2022 03 24 Allegrini Franco Olivieri Alejandro C 2020 Figures of Merit Comprehensive Chemometrics Elsevier pp 441 463 doi 10 1016 b978 0 12 409547 2 14612 8 ISBN 978 0 444 64166 3 S2CID 193125279 retrieved 2022 03 24 Minshall David Measuring Accuracy Research Press Retrieved 2023 02 12 Decoding Battery Life For Laptops New York Times June 25 2009
