Standard Deviation
Standard deviation is a statistical measure that indicates how much the values in a set of data differ from the average (mean) value. A low standard deviation means the data points are close to the mean, suggesting consistency, while a high standard deviation indicates that the data points are spread out over a wider range, reflecting greater variability. For example, if test scores have a low standard deviation, most students scored similarly; if the standard deviation is high, students' scores varied widely. It's a useful tool to understand the distribution and reliability of data.
Additional Insights
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Standard deviation is a measure that tells us how spread out the values in a dataset are. Imagine you have a collection of test scores; if most scores are close to the average, the standard deviation is low, indicating consistency. However, if scores vary widely, the standard deviation is high, showing more diversity in performance. Essentially, it gauges the amount of variation or deviation from the average, helping us understand the reliability and consistency of the data we’re analyzing. A smaller standard deviation suggests more uniformity, while a larger one indicates greater variability.