We study standard deviation. In statistics, we have learned using mean to find the average, and we have learned to use range to see the spread of the data. But range is not very good as the tool to represent the spread of the data.

A better way is the measure called standard deviation:

Standard Deviation SD = sqrt(sum of (Xi – AvgX)^2/N)

where N is the total number of data, AvgX is the mean of the data. Xi – AvgX is called the deviation of Xi from the mean AvgX for each i = 1, 2, …, N

[Sorry, I can’t type using the summation notation sigma, which is what we learn in the class. This will simplify the writing.]

Here is a written proof of going from the definition to a formulae often used:

sqrt(∑(Xi – AvgX)^2 / N) = ∑Xi^2 / N – (∑Xi / N)^2

I showed the proof in the classroom, but students may not get it.

Homework (pages are links, click to download):

Page 1  and Page 2: #1, #4, #5, #6.

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