Z-scores

A Z-score tells you how far a specific data point is from the average (mean) of a set, measured in standard deviations. For example, a Z-score of 2 means the point is two standard deviations above the average, while a Z-score of -1 indicates it’s one standard deviation below. It helps us understand whether a value is typical or unusual compared to the overall data, standardizing different datasets so they can be compared directly. In essence, Z-scores provide context, revealing how a particular observation fits within the broader distribution.