Standard Deviation

DR VASHISH
Standard deviation
• Denoted as ‘s’
• Useful in measurement of spread of data
• Gives a measure of the deviations of the readings from the mean, ẋ

• Formula: Sample is > 30

2
Σ 𝑥−ẋ
s=
𝑛
Sample < 30

2
S= Σ 𝑥− ẋ
𝑛 −1

Where
S = standard deviation
X – measurement
ẋ - mean
N – number of measurements
Varience
• Denoted as ‘s2

• Formula ( Sample > 30) Sample < 30

2
Σ 𝑥 − ẋ
s2 = 𝑛 S2 =
Σ 𝑥−ẋ 2

𝑛 −1
Where
X – measurement
ẋ - mean
N – sum of measurements
Example
1. For the set of numbers
4 6 6.5 7.2 11.3
Solution
4+6+6.5+7.2+11.3
ẋ= =7
5
Σ( x - ẋ)2 = (4 – 7)2 + ( 6 -7)2 + (6.5-7)2 + (7.2 – 7)2 + (11.3-7)2 = 28.78
28.78
S= = 2.68
5 −1
Classwork
• Calculate standard deviation for the following set of data
-193 -46 28 69 177
Properties of Standard deviation
• Gives an indication of the lowest and highest values of the data.

• The units of standard deviation are the same as the units of the
data.

• Useful in comparing data; higher the standard deviation, greater

the variability in the data.
Alternative formula for standard deviation

• Sample > 30
Σ𝑥2
S= - ẋ2
𝑛

Sample < 30
Σ𝑥2
S= - ẋ2
𝑛 −1
Standard deviation for frequency distribution

SAMPLE > 30 SAMPLE < 30

2 2
Σ𝑓 𝑥 − ẋ Σ𝑓 𝑥 − ẋ
s= s=
Σ𝑓 Σ𝑓 −1

or Σ𝑓𝑥2
S= - ẋ2
Σ𝑓 −1
Σ𝑓𝑥2
S= - ẋ2
Σ𝑓
Example
• An intelligence test was taken by 115 candidates. For each
candidate the time taken to complete the test was recorded.
Calculate estimates of mean and standard deviation of the times
taken to complete the test.

Time (min) 0-1 1-2 2–3 3–5 5 – 10

Frequency 10 15 25 40 25
Solution
Time (min) Mid interval, x Frequency, f fx fx2
0–1 0.5 10 5 2.5
1–2 1.5 15 22.5 33.75
2–3 2.5 25 62.5 156.25
3–5 4 40 160 640
5 - 10 7.5 25 187.5 1406.25
Σf = 115 Σfx = 437.5 Σfx2 = 2238.75
 Σ𝑓𝑥 437.5
• Mean, ẋ = = = 3.8
Σ𝑓 115

Σ𝑓𝑥2 2238.75
• S= -ẋ2 = - 3.82= 2.2
Σ𝑓 115

• The mean time is 3.8 minutes & standard deviation is 2.2 minutes.
Ungrouped data – Median & quartiles
• The table below shows the number of children in the family for 35
families in a certain area. Find the interquartile range and the
median number of children per family.

Number of 0 1 2 3 4 5
children
Frequency 3 5 12 9 4 2
 Solution
• Cumulative frequency
Number of 0 ≤1 ≤2 ≤3 ≤4 ≤5
children
Cumulative 3 8 20 29 33 35
frequency

3+5 8 + 12
Continue
1
• Since there are 35 values ; median = ( 35 + 1)th value  18th value
2
• Since 8 families with ≤1 & 20 families ≤2  18th value = 2
• Median = 2
• N = odd
1
• Q1 = (35 + 1)th value = 9th value = 2
4
3
• Q2 = (35 + 1)th value = 27th value = 3
4
• Interquartile range = 3 – 2 = 1 child per family