Calculating Standard Deviation
Learning Objective
I can calculate standard deviation to analyze data sets.
Key Concepts
Standard deviation measures the spread or variation in a data set, often visualized as a bell-shaped curve called a normal distribution.
Approximately 68% of data points fall within one standard deviation from the mean, while 95% fall within two standard deviations.
The formula for standard deviation involves calculating the square root of the variance, which is the average of the squared differences from the mean.
Practice Questions
This lesson includes 3 practice questions to reinforce learning.
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1. What does standard deviation measure in a data set?
2. Describe the relationship between a normal distribution curve and standard deviation. How does the shape of the curve change with a larger or smaller standard deviation?
3. A researcher measures the heights of a sample of plants and calculates a standard deviation of 2 cm. Explain what this standard deviation indicates about the variability in the heights of the plants.
Educational Video
Standard Deviation
Bozeman Science