diff --git a/interp/tools.py b/interp/tools.py
index a86f9ba..74c35d8 100644
--- a/interp/tools.py
+++ b/interp/tools.py
@@ -65,7 +65,11 @@ def improved_answer(answer, exact):
   else:
     log.debug(":( damaged result")
     return False
-
+def improved(qlin, err, final, exact):
+  if np.abs(final - exact) <= np.abs(qlin - exact):
+    return True
+  else:
+    return False
 
 def percent_improvement(answer, exact):
   return np.abs(answer['error']) / exact