AQA Statistics 1 Numerical measures

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Section 2: Measures of spread

Crucial points

1. Remember to check whether you are dealing with a population or a
sample
Remember that the formulae for the variance and standard deviation of a
population are slightly different from those for the sample variance and
standard deviation, which can be used as estimates for the population
variance and standard deviation.
All the formulae can be derived from the sum of the squared deviations,
S
xx
.

x
x
n

,
2 2
xx
S x nx

Population variance
2

xx
S
n
Population standard deviation
xx
S
n

Sample variance
2
1

xx
x
S
s
n
Sample standard deviation
1

xx
x
S
s
n


To calculate the sample variance and standard deviation, remember to
divide by (n 1), not n.

2. Dont confuse variance with standard deviation
The standard deviation has the advantage that it is measured in the same
units as the data. The variance will be in square units. Make sure you read
the question carefully and give the answer requested.

3. Choose the appropriate form for the formula for S
xx

Remember that there are two versions of the formula for S
xx
. If the data set
is fairly small and the mean is a round number, the form
2
( )
xx
S x x is
quite easy to use. However, if the mean is not a round number, then it is
better to calculate
2

x (in an examination question you might be given

this) and use the form
2 2

xx
S x nx .

4. When working with frequencies, set your calculations out clearly
If the data is given in the form of a frequency table, it is best to copy the
table and add rows / columns to give the values of x, fx and fx, and the
totals for f, fx and fx. If the data is grouped, you need an extra row or
column for the mid-interval value. This is shown in Examples 5 and 6 in
the Notes and Examples.

5. Avoid rounding errors
Use the memory function of your calculator to avoid rounding errors. For
example, if the mean of a set of data is not an exact number, store this in
your calculator so that you can use it in the calculation of S
xx
.

AQA S1 Numerical measures 2 Crucial points


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6. Be careful when using calculator statistical functions for finding the
variance and standard deviation
Different makes of calculator use different notations you need to be clear
which is the appropriate key to use for population standard deviation (often
denoted by or
n
) and standard deviation (often denoted by s,
n-1
or ).

7. Make sure that you know how to undo coding when you have
calculated the mean and standard deviation of coded data
If data has been coded using y a bx , then the mean of the coded data
is related to the mean of the original data by the equation
y a bx
and the standard deviation of the coded data is related to the standard
deviation of the original data by the equation

y x
s bs

Example
Given that
2.5
10
x
y

and that 3.82
y
s , find s
x
.

Wrong: 10 2.5 10 3.82 2.5 40.7
x y
s s

Right: 10 10 3.82 38.2
x y
s s


8. Do not confuse variance and standard deviation when using coding
methods
If data is multiplied by k, the standard deviation is multiplied by k, but the
variance is multiplied by k
2
.

Example
Given that
8.5
5
x
y

and that 1.24
y
V , find V
x
.

Wrong: 5 5 1.24 6.2
x y
V V

Right:
2 2
5 5 1.24 31
x y
V V