MODULE 4

MODULE IN MEASURES OF DISPERSION

[Discussions on some of the topics in this module are based from my notes when I take my Master of
Statistics in UP Diliman and my PhD in Social Science Research in Leyte Normal University. Others were
based from my personal knowledge and experience when dealing with the situation that requires my
personal decision and from my readings and researches from different references which I also
mentioned and acknowledged in this material. Some authors and books are mention in this material for
the students to take a look for further readings and references.]

MEASURES OF DISPERSION – measures of dispersion or sometimes called measures of variation shows

how your data is being scattered or varies from one another. We will discuss these five measures of
dispersion:

A. RANGE
B. QUARTILE RANGE
C. QUARTILE DEVIATION
D. AVERAGE DEVIATION
E. STANDARD DEVIATION

RANGE - is the difference between the two extreme values. This is equal to the highest value minus the
lowest value.

Example 1:

Find the range of the given set of data:

2, 5, 9, 9, 4, 1, 7

The highest data is 9 and the lowest data is 1, so the range is 9 – 1 = 8.

Example 2:

Find the range of the set of data:

The frequency distribution given below shows that the lowest data is 1, the lower limit of class 1 to 3
while the highest data is 30, the upper limit of class 28 to 30. However, this frequency distribution
actually starts from the lower class boundary of class 1 – 3 which is 0.5 and end at the upper class
boundary of class 28 – 30 which is 30.5. The distance from the lower class boundary of the lowest class
to the upper class boundary of the highest class is the range. So the range of this frequency distribution
is 30.5 – 0.5 = 30.
 Classs f
1 -3 5
4–6 9
7–9 13
10 – 12 17
13 – 15 19
16 – 18 15
19 – 21 11
22 – 24 11
25 – 27 7
28 – 30 3
TOTAL 110

QUARTILE RANGE – The difference between the highest and the lowest data is the range. We can also
compute the difference between the first and the third quartile and that is the quartile range.

QR = Q3 – Q1

Example:

Find the quartile range of the given set of data:

Classs f
1 -3 5
4–6 9
7–9 13
10 – 12 17
13 – 15 19
16 – 18 15
19 – 21 11
22 – 24 11
25 – 27 7
28 – 30 3
TOTAL 110

The first step in solving for the range is to compute the first and the third quartile. To compute for the
quartiles, we have to construct the less than cumulative frequency distribution. We have to add one
more column to the table, the F column which is the less than cumulative frequency column.
 Classs f F
1 -3 5 5
4–6 9 14
7–9 13 27
10 – 12 17 44
13 – 15 19 63
16 – 18 15 78
19 – 21 11 89
22 – 24 11 100
25 – 27 7 107
28 – 30 3 110
TOTAL 110

Computing the first quartile:

1
𝑛− 𝐹
4
Q1 = l + c [ ]
𝑓

1/4n = 27.5

F (less than cumulative frequency immediately less than 1/4n) = 27

The class wherein data number 1/4n belongs is class 10 – 12 and the frequency of this class is 17 while
the lower class boundary is 9.5 and the class interval is 3.

Substituting all these values in the formula:

1
𝑛− 𝐹
4
Q1 = l + c [ 𝑓
]

27.5− 27
Q1 = 9.5 + 3 [ 17
]

Q1 = 9.59

Computing the third quartile:

3
𝑛− 𝐹
4
Q3 = l + c [ ]
𝑓

3/4n = 82.5

F (less than cumulative frequency immediately less than 82.5) = 78

Class wherein data number 3/4n belong is class 19 – 21 and the frequency of this class is 11
while the lower class boundary is 18.5. Substituting all these values in the formula:
 82.5− 78
Q3 = 18.5 + 3 [ 11
]

Q3 = 19.73

Quartile Range = Q3 – Q1

QR = 19.73 – 9.59

QR = 10.14

QUARTILE DEVIATION is just one half of the quartile range. So the quartile deviation of the given
frequency distribution:

QUARTILE DEVIATION = Quartile Range ÷ 2

= 10.14 ÷ 2 =5.07

AVERAGE DEVIATION could be computed using these formulas:

For raw data:

𝛴/𝑑/
AD =
𝑛

For grouped data:

𝛴/𝑓𝑑/
AD =
𝑛

The symbol / / indicates absolute value, meaning that we have to take the positive value in case
the result is negative.

While d is computed:

d=x-ȳ

or

d = x – md

Example 1:

Find the average deviation from the mean of this given set of data:

5, 9, 7, 4, 4, 6, 7, 5, 9, 7
Solution:

We have to compute the mean first since we are computing the average deviation from the mean.
𝛴𝑥
ȳ=
𝑛

5+9+7+4+4+6+7+5+9+7
ȳ= 𝑛

ȳ = 6.3

d will be computed using the formula d = x - ȳ since the average deviation that we are looking is based
from the mean, but we will take the absolute value disregarding the minus sign if in case the result is
negative. It is more preferable to present the data in tabular form in computing the average deviation.
Since ȳ = 6.3, d will be computed using the formula d = x – 6.3 and presenting /d/ column in the table:

x /d/
5 1.3
9 2.7
7 0.7
4 2.3
4 2.3
6 0.3
7 0.7
5 1.3
9 2.7
7 0.7
63 15

𝛴/𝑑/
ADȳ = 𝑛

15
ADȳ = 10
= 1.5

Example 2:

Find the average deviation from the median of this given set of data:

5, 9, 7, 4, 4, 6, 7, 5, 9, 7
Solution:

We have to compute the median first since we are computing the average deviation from the median.
We arrange the data from lowest to highest and get the middle value in order to compute the median.

4, 4, 5, 5, 6, 7, 7, 7, 9, 9

The two middle values are 6 and 7

md = (6 + 7) ÷ 2 = 6.5

Compute d = x – md and present the data in tabular form disregarding the minus sign for /d/:

x /d/
5 1.5
9 2.5
7 0.5
4 2.5
4 2.5
6 0.5
7 0.5
5 1.5
9 2.5
7 0.5
63 15

𝛴/𝑑/
ADmd = 𝑛

15
ADmd = = 1.5
10

Solving the average deviation for grouped data or if the data is in a form of a numerical frequency
distribution, you will use the formula:

𝛴/𝑓𝑑/
ADȳ = 𝑛

Again, there is a need to compute the mean first if the average deviation is based from the mean or
compute the median first if the average deviation is based from the median.

Example 3:

Find the average deviation from the mean of the given set of data:
 Classs f
1 -3 5
4–6 9
7–9 13
10 – 12 17
13 – 15 19
16 – 18 15
19 – 21 11
22 – 24 11
25 – 27 7
28 – 30 3
TOTAL 110

The first step in computing the average from the mean is to compute for the mean first and computing
the mean, we add two columns the x and the fx column.

Classs f x fx
1 -3 5 2 10
4–6 9 5 45
7–9 13 8 104
10 – 12 17 11 187
13 – 15 19 14 266
16 – 18 15 17 255
19 – 21 11 20 220
22 – 24 11 23 253
25 – 27 7 26 182
28 – 30 3 29 87
TOTAL 110 1,609

Solving the mean:

𝛴𝑓𝑥 1,609
ȳ= 𝑛
= 110
= 14.63

To compute the average deviation from the mean, you have to add two columns to the table,
the /d/ and the /fd/ columns. Compute d = x - ȳ and get the absolute value for /d/ disregarding the
minus signs. Multiply the individual values of the /d/ column and f column one by one and record it in
the /fd/ column before adding all the products of /fd/ in order to get the result of Σ/fd/.
 Classs f x fx /d/ /fd/
1 -3 5 2 10 12.63 63.15
4–6 9 5 45 9.63 86.67
7–9 13 8 104 6.63 86.19
10 – 12 17 11 187 3.63 61.71
13 – 15 19 14 266 0.63 11.97
16 – 18 15 17 255 2.37 35.55
19 – 21 11 20 220 5.37 59.07
22 – 24 11 23 253 8.37 92.07
25 – 27 7 26 182 11.37 79.59
28 – 30 3 29 87 14.37 43.11
TOTAL 110 1,609 619.08

𝛴/𝑓𝑑/ 619.08
ADȳ = 𝑛
= 110
= 5.63

In computing the average deviation from the median, you have to compute the median and solve d = x –
md and then follow the same procedure in computing the average deviation from the mean.

STANDARD DEVIATION

Let

σ be the population standard deviation

s be the sample standard deviation

These are standard notations of the standard deviation:

For raw data:

𝛴(𝑥−µ)2
σ=√ 𝑁

𝛴(𝑥−ȳ)2
s= √
𝑛−1

Example 1:

Find the standard deviation of the given set of population data below:

5, 9, 9, 4, 6, 2, 2, 5, 4, 7
Solution:

Since the data is a population data, the mean should be denoted by µ and the standard deviation is
denoted by σ. The best solution in computing the mean and the standard deviation is to present the
data in tabular form.

x
5
9
9
4
6
2
2
5
4
7
53

Solving for the population mean:

𝛴𝑥 53
µ= 𝑁
= 10 = 5.3

We have to add two columns in solving the standard deviation, the x - µ and the (x - µ)2 columns:

x x-µ (x - µ)2
5 - 0.3 0.09
9 3.7 13.69
9 3.7 13.69
4 -1.3 1.69
6 0.7 0.49
2 -3.3 10.89
2 -3.3 10.89
5 -0.3 0.09
4 -1.3 1.69
7 1.7 2.89
53 56.1

𝛴(𝑥−µ)2
σ=√ 𝑁
 56.1
σ=√ = 2.37
10

Example 2:

Find the standard deviation of the data given below:

5, 9, 9, 4, 6, 2, 2, 5, 4, 7

Solution:

Since the given set of data is not stated that it is a population data, we have to presume that it is a
sample data. The mean should be denoted by ȳ and the standard deviation is to be denoted by s.

Presenting the data in tabular form:

x
5
9
9
4
6
2
2
5
4
7
53

We have to solve the sample mean in order for us to solve the standard deviation:

𝛴𝑥 53
ȳ= 𝑛
= 10 = 5.3

Add two columns to the table in order to compute the standard deviation, the x-ȳ and the(x-ȳ)2 columns.
 x x-ȳ (x - ȳ)2
5 - 0.3 0.09
9 3.7 13.69
9 3.7 13.69
4 -1.3 1.69
6 0.7 0.49
2 -3.3 10.89
2 -3.3 10.89
5 -0.3 0.09
4 -1.3 1.69
7 1.7 2.89
53 56.1

We can now compute the sample standard deviation using the formula:

𝛴(𝑥−ȳ)2
s= √ 𝑛−1

𝛴(𝑥−ȳ)2 56.1
s= √ 𝑛−1
= √ 9
= 2.50

There is an alternative formula in solving the sample standard deviation. It could also be solved using
the formula:

𝑛𝛴𝑋2−(𝛴𝑋)2
s=√ 𝑛(𝑛−1)
[𝛴𝑋2 in the formula is actually ΣX2 𝑎𝑛𝑑 (𝛴𝑋)2 in the formula is actually (ΣX)2]

We will now compute the sample standard deviation using this second formula. We present the data
again in tabular form:

x x2
5 25
9 81
9 81
4 16
6 36
2 4
2 4
5 25
4 16
7 49
53 337
Substituting these values in the formula
𝑛𝛴𝑋2−(𝛴𝑋)2
s=√ 𝑛(𝑛−1)

10(337)−(53)2
s=√ 10(10−1)

3370−2809
s=√ 90

s =2.50

I presented two different solutions based from two different formulas in solving the sample standard
𝛴(𝑥−ȳ)2 𝑛𝛴𝑋2−(𝛴𝑋)2
deviation. The first formula s = √ 𝑛−1
is more simple than the second formula s = √ 𝑛(𝑛−1)
but
with a longer solution. You have to compute the mean first in order to use the first simple formula and
you need two additional columns to the table. The second formula is a little bit more complicated than
the first formula but with a more simple solution. You only need one additional column to the table and
you do not need to compute the mean. Both formulas will come up with the same result.

For grouped data: These are the formulas in solving the standard deviation for grouped data:

𝛴𝑓(𝑥−µ)2
σ=√
𝑁

𝛴𝑓(𝑥−ȳ)2
s=√ 𝑛−1

The sample standard deviation could also be solved using the alternate formula:

𝑛𝛴𝑓𝑋2−(𝛴𝑓𝑋)2
s=√ 𝑛(𝑛−1)
[𝛴𝑓𝑋2 in the formula is actually ΣfX2 𝑎𝑛𝑑 (𝛴𝑓𝑋)2 in the formula is actually
(ΣfX)2]
Example 1:

Find the standard deviation of the population data given below:

Classs f
1 -3 5
4–6 9
7–9 13
10 – 12 17
13 – 15 19
16 – 18 15
19 – 21 11
22 – 24 11
25 – 27 7
28 – 30 3
TOTAL 110

Solution:

The first step in computing the population standard deviation is to compute the population mean:
𝛴𝑓𝑥
µ=
𝑁

Two columns will be added, the x and the fx column in order to compute the mean.

Classs f x fx
1 -3 5 2 10
4–6 9 5 45
7–9 13 8 104
10 – 12 17 11 187
13 – 15 19 14 266
16 – 18 15 17 255
19 – 21 11 20 220
22 – 24 11 23 253
25 – 27 7 26 182
28 – 30 3 29 87
TOTAL 110 1,609

𝛴𝑓𝑥 1,609
µ= 𝑁
= 110
= 14.63
Add three columns to the table, the x-µ, (x-µ)2 and the f(x-µ)2 columns to solve the standard deviation σ.

Classs f x fx x -µ (x-µ)2 f(x-µ)2

1 -3 5 2 10 -12.63 159.52 797.60
4–6 9 5 45 -9.63 92.74 834.88
7–9 13 8 104 -6.63 43.96 571.48
10 – 12 17 11 187 -3.63 13.18 224.06
13 – 15 19 14 266 -0.63 0.4 7.60
16 – 18 15 17 255 2.37 5.62 84.30
19 – 21 11 20 220 5.37 28.84 317.24
22 – 24 11 23 253 8.37 70.06 770.66
25 – 27 7 26 182 11.37 129.28 904.96
28 – 30 3 29 87 14.37 206.50 619.50
TOTAL 110 1,609 5,132.28

𝛴𝑓(𝑥−µ)2
σ=√ 𝑁

5,132.28
σ=√ 110
= 6.83

example 2:

Find the standard deviation of the data given below:

Classs f
1 -3 5
4–6 9
7–9 13
10 – 12 17
13 – 15 19
16 – 18 15
19 – 21 11
22 – 24 11
25 – 27 7
28 – 30 3
TOTAL 110
Solution:

The first step in computing the standard is to compute the mean: since it is not stated that the data is a
population, we presume that it is a sample data.

𝛴𝑓𝑥
ȳ= 𝑛

Two columns will be added, the x and the fx column in order to compute the mean.

Classs f x fx
1 -3 5 2 10
4–6 9 5 45
7–9 13 8 104
10 – 12 17 11 187
13 – 15 19 14 266
16 – 18 15 17 255
19 – 21 11 20 220
22 – 24 11 23 253
25 – 27 7 26 182
28 – 30 3 29 87
TOTAL 110 1,609

𝛴𝑓𝑥 1,609
ȳ= 𝑛
= 110
= 14.63

We add three columns to compute for the standard deviation, the x-ȳ, (x-ȳ)2 and the f(x-ȳ)2 columns.

Classs f x fx x -ȳ (x-ȳ)2 f(x-ȳ)2

1 -3 5 2 10 -12.63 159.52 797.60
4–6 9 5 45 -9.63 92.74 834.88
7–9 13 8 104 -6.63 43.96 571.48
10 – 12 17 11 187 -3.63 13.18 224.06
13 – 15 19 14 266 -0.63 0.4 7.60
16 – 18 15 17 255 2.37 5.62 84.30
19 – 21 11 20 220 5.37 28.84 317.24
22 – 24 11 23 253 8.37 70.06 770.66
25 – 27 7 26 182 11.37 129.28 904.96
28 – 30 3 29 87 14.37 206.50 619.50
TOTAL 110 1,609 5,132.28
 𝛴𝑓(𝑥−ȳ)2
s=√ 𝑛−1

5,132.28
s=√ 109
= 6.86

Considering the given set of data as a sample data, we could also solve this using the alternate formula
in solving the sample standard deviation.

The first step is to present the data in tabular form:

Classs f x fx fx2 fx2 is the product of fx and x column:

1 -3 5 2 10 20
4–6 9 5 45 225
7–9 13 8 104 832
10 – 12 17 11 187 2,057
13 – 15 19 14 266 3,724
16 – 18 15 17 255 4,335
19 – 21 11 20 220 4,400
22 – 24 11 23 253 5,819
25 – 27 7 26 182 4,732
28 – 30 3 29 87 2,523
TOTAL 110 1,609 28,667

Substituting the values in the formula:

𝑛𝛴𝑓𝑋2−(𝛴𝑓𝑋)2
s=√ 𝑛(𝑛−1)

110(28,667)−(1,609)2
s=√ 110(110−1)

3,153,370−2,588,881
s=√ 11,990

s = 6.86

Again, the alternate formula in solving the sample standard deviation is more complicated than the first
formula, however, the solution is shorter and more simple. Three additional columns are only needed in
solving the sample standard deviation compare to five additional columns needed in the first formula.
References:
1. Freund, John E., Williams, Frank J.; Business statistics
2. Ronald E. Walpole (1974); Introduction to Statistics: Third Edition; EDCA Publishing &
Distributing Corporation, Quezon City
3. Ronald E. Walpole, Raymond H. Myers, Sharon L. Myers (1998); Probability and Statistics for
Engineers and Scientists: sixth edition; Prentice Hall International, Inc.
 GUIDED EXERCISE IN MEASURES OF DISPERSION

Fill the blanks of this guided exercise with the correct figures, words, phrases or sentences, write
your name in every page and scan it together with your solution of the exercises given at the
end of this material. Send these materials through email to robbiecapon@gmail.com.

MEASURES OF DISPERSION – measures of dispersion or sometimes called measures of _____1_____

shows how your data is being scattered or varies from one another. We will discuss these five measures
of dispersion:

A. RANGE
B. QUARTILE RANGE
C. QUARTILE DEVIATION
D. AVERAGE DEVIATION
E. STANDARD DEVIATION

RANGE - is the difference between the two extreme values. This is equal to the highest value minus the
lowest value.

Example 1:

Find the range of the given set of data:

25, 29, 17, 32, 51, 27, 39, 45

The range of this given set of data is ___2____

Example 2:

Find the range of the set of data:

Classs f
1 -4 3
5–8 8
9 – 12 12
13 – 16 15
17 – 20 17
21 – 24 15
25 – 28 13
29 – 32 12
33 – 36 8
37 – 40 7
 TOTAL 110
This frequency distribution shows that the lowest data is 1, the ______3______ of class 1 to 4 while the
highest data is ____4____, the upper limit of class 37 to 40. However, this frequency distribution
actually starts from the lower class boundary of class ______5_____ which is 0.5 and end at the
________6______ of class 37 – 40 which is 40.5. The distance from the lower class boundary of the
lowest class to the upper class boundary of the highest class is the range. So the range of this frequency
distribution is _______7______.

QUARTILE RANGE – The difference between the _____8_____ and the third quartile is the range.

QR = Q3 – Q1

Example:

Find the range of the given set of data:

Classs f
1 -4 3
5–8 8
9 – 12 12
13 – 16 15
17 – 20 17
21 – 24 15
25 – 28 13
29 – 32 12
33 – 36 8
37 – 40 7
TOTAL 110

The first step in solving for the range is to compute the first and the third quartile. To compute for the
quartiles, we have to construct the ________9_______ cumulative frequency distribution denoted by F.

Classs f F
1 -4 3 3
5–8 8 11
9 – 12 12 23
13 – 16 15 38
17 – 20 17 55
21 – 24 15 70
25 – 28 13 83
29 – 32 12 95
33 – 36 8 103
37 – 40 7 110
 TOTAL 110

Computing the first quartile:

1
𝑛− 𝐹
4
Q1 = l + c [ 𝑓
]

1/4n = 27.5

F (less than cumulative frequency immediately less than 1/4n) = ____10____

The class wherein data number 1/4n belongs is class _______11______ and the frequency of this class is
15 while the lower class boundary is _____12_____ and the class interval is ___13___.

Substituting all these values in the formula:

1
𝑛− 𝐹
4
Q1 = l + c [ 𝑓
]

Q1 = ______14_______

Computing the third quartile:

3
𝑛− 𝐹
4
Q3 = l + c [ ]
𝑓

3/4n = 82.5

F (less than cumulative frequency immediately less than 82.5) = 70

Class wherein data number 3/4n belong is class ______15_____ and the frequency of this class
is 13 while the lower class boundary is _______16______. Substituting all these values in the formula:

Q3 = _______17______

Quartile Range = Q3 – Q1

QR = _____18_______

QUARTILE DEVIATION is just one half of the quartile range. So the quartile deviation of the given
frequency distribution:

QUARTILE DEVIATION = Quartile Range ÷ 2

QD = _____19______
AVERAGE DEVIATION could be computed using these formulas:

For raw data:

𝛴/𝑑/
AD = 𝑛

For grouped data:

𝛴/𝑓𝑑/
AD =
𝑛

While d is computed:

d=x-ȳ

or

d = x - md

Problem 1:

Find the average deviation from the mean of this given set of data:

9, 12, 17, 22, 4, 19, 14, 16, 16, 22

Solution:

We have to compute the mean first since we are computing the average deviation from the mean.
𝛴𝑥
ȳ= 𝑛

ȳ = ____20____

d will be computed using the formula d = ___21____ since the average deviation that we are looking is
based from the mean, but we will take the absolute value disregarding the minus sign if in case the
result is negative. It is more preferable to present the data in tabular form in computing the average
deviation. Since ȳ = 6.3, d will be computed using the formula d = x – 6.3. Presenting the data in tabular
form and adding another column to the table:
 x /d/ (fill the blanks and complete the table 2 points)
9 ____
12 ____
17 ____
22 ____
4 ____
19 ____
14 ____
16 ____
16 ____
22 ____
151 ____

𝛴/𝑑/
ADȳ = 𝑛

ADȳ = ___24____

Problem 2:

Find the average deviation from the median of this given set of data:

9, 12, 17, 22, 4, 19, 14, 16, 16, 22

Solution:

We have to compute the median first since we are computing the average deviation from the median.
We arrange the data from lowest to highest and get the middle value in order to compute the median.

_______________25____________________ (arrange the data from lowest to highest)

The two middle values are 16 and 16

md = ______26_______

Presenting again the data in tabular form:

 x /d/ (fill the blanks and complete the table 2 points)
9 ____
12 ____
17 ____
22 ____
4 ____
19 ____
14 ____
16 ____
16 ____
22 ____
151 ____

𝛴/𝑑/
ADmd = 𝑛

ADmd = ____29____

We now discuss how to compute the average deviation of grouped data:

Problem 3:

Find the average deviation from the mean of the given set of data:

Classs f
1 -4 3
5–8 8
9 – 12 12
13 – 16 15
17 – 20 17
21 – 24 15
25 – 28 13
29 – 32 12
33 – 36 8
37 – 40 7
TOTAL 110
The first thing to do in computing the average deviation from the mean is to compute the mean of the
frequency distribution. Computing the mean, we add two columns the x and the fx column.
Complete the tale filling the blanks: (3 points)
Classs f x fx
1 -4 3 ___ ___
5–8 8 ___ ___
9 – 12 12 ___ ___
13 – 16 15 ___ ___
17 – 20 17 ___ ___
21 – 24 15 ___ ___
25 – 28 13 ___ ___
29 – 32 12 ___ ___
33 – 36 8 ___ ___
37 – 40 7 ___ ___
TOTAL 110 ___

𝛴𝑓𝑥
ȳ= 𝑛
= ___33___

To solve the average deviation from the mean, add two columns to the table, the /d/ and the /fd/
𝛴/𝑓𝑑/
column in the table. Compute d = x - ȳ and ADȳ = 𝑛
(fill the blanks to complete the table: 3 Points)

Classs f x fx /d/ /fd/

1 -4 3 ___ ___ ___ ___
5–8 8 ___ ___ ___ ___
9 – 12 12 ___ ___ ___ ___
13 – 16 15 ___ ___ ___ ___
17 – 20 17 ___ ___ ___ ___
21 – 24 15 ___ ___ ___ ___
25 – 28 13 ___ ___ ___ ___
29 – 32 12 ___ ___ ___ ___
33 – 36 8 ___ ___ ___ ___
37 – 40 7 ___ ___ ___ ___
TOTAL 110 ___ ___

𝛴/𝑓𝑑/
ADȳ = = ____37____
𝑛

In computing the average deviation from the median, you have to compute the median and solve d = x –
md and then follow the same procedure in computing the average deviation from the mean.
STANDARD DEVIATION

Let

σ be the population standard deviation

s be the sample standard deviation

These are standard notations of the standard deviation:

For raw data:

𝛴(𝑥−µ)2
σ=√ 𝑁

𝛴(𝑥−ȳ)2
s= √
𝑛−1

Problem 1:

Find the standard deviation of the given set of population data below:

19, 12, 15, 15, 14, 19, 16, 15, 14, 17

Solution:

Since the data is a population data, the mean should be denoted by µ and the standard deviation is
denoted by σ. The best solution in computing the mean and the standard deviation is to present the
data in tabular form.

x
19
12
15
15
14
19
16
15
14
17
156
 𝛴𝑥
µ= 𝑁
= __38__

Presenting the data in tabular form to compute the population standard deviation: (complete the table
by filling the blanks ( 3 points)

X x-µ (x - µ)2
19 ___ ____
12 ___ ____
15 ___ ____
15 ___ ____
14 ___ ____
19 ___ ____
16 ___ ____
15 ___ ____
14 ___ ____
17 ___ ____
156 ____
 𝛴(𝑥−µ)2
σ=√ 𝑁

σ = ___42____

Problem 2:

Find the standard deviation of the data given below:

19, 12, 15, 15, 14, 19, 16, 15, 14, 17

Solution:

Since the given set of data is not stated that it is a population data, we have to presume that it is a
sample data. The mean should be denoted by ȳ and the standard deviation is to be denoted by s.

Presenting the data in tabular form:

x
19
12
15
15
14
19
16
15
14
17
156

𝛴𝑥
ȳ= 𝑛
= ____43____

Add two columns to the table in order to compute the standard deviation, the x-ȳ and the(x-ȳ)2 columns.
(complete the table by filling the blanks: 2 points)
 x x-ȳ (x - ȳ)2
19 ___ ____
12 ___ ____
15 ___ ____
15 ___ ____
14 ___ ____
19 ___ ____
16 ___ ____
15 ___ ____
14 ___ ____
17 ___ ____
156 ____

𝛴(𝑥−ȳ)2
s= √
𝑛−1

s = ____46_____

There is an alternative formula in solving the sample standard deviation. It could also be solved using
the formula:

𝑛𝛴𝑋2−(𝛴𝑋)2
s=√ 𝑛(𝑛−1)
[𝛴𝑋2 in the formula is actually ΣX2 𝑎𝑛𝑑 (𝛴𝑋)2 in the formula is actually (ΣX)2]

We will now compute the sample standard deviation using this second formula. We present the data
again in tabular form: (complete the table by filling the blanks: 2 points)

X x2
19 ___
12 ___
15 ___
15 ___
14 ___
19 ___
16 ___
15 ___
14 ___
17 ___
156
Substituting these values in the formula
𝑛𝛴𝑋2−(𝛴𝑋)2
s=√ 𝑛(𝑛−1)

s = ____49 ____

For grouped data:

𝛴𝑓(𝑥−µ)2
σ=√ 𝑁

𝛴𝑓(𝑥−ȳ)2
s=√ 𝑛−1

𝑛𝛴𝑓𝑋2−(𝛴𝑓𝑋)2
s=√ 𝑛(𝑛−1)
[𝛴𝑓𝑋2 in the formula is actually ΣfX2 𝑎𝑛𝑑 (𝛴𝑓𝑋)2 in the formula is actually
(ΣfX)2]

Problem 1:

Find the standard deviation of the population data given below:

Classs f
1 -4 3
5–8 8
9 – 12 12
13 – 16 15
17 – 20 17
21 – 24 15
25 – 28 13
29 – 32 12
33 – 36 8
37 – 40 7
TOTAL 110
Solution:

The first step in computing the population standard deviation is to compute the population mean:

𝛴𝑓𝑥
µ= 𝑁
Two columns will be added, the x and the fx column in order to compute the mean. (Complete the table
by filling the blanks :2 points)

Classs f x fx
1 -4 3 ___ ___
5–8 8 ___ ___
9 – 12 12 ___ ___
13 – 16 15 ___ ___
17 – 20 17 ___ ___
21 – 24 15 ___ ___
25 – 28 13 ___ ___
29 – 32 12 ___ ___
33 – 36 8 ___ ___
37 – 40 7 ___ ___
TOTAL 110 ___

𝛴𝑓𝑥
µ= = ___52____
𝑁

Add three columns to the table, the x-µ, (x-µ)2 and the f(x-µ)2 columns to solve the population standard
deviation. (complete the table by filling the blanks: 3 points)

Classs f x fx x-µ (x - µ)2 f(x - µ)2

1 -4 3 ___ ___ ___ ____ _____
5–8 8 ___ ___ ___ ____ _____
9 – 12 12 ___ ___ ___ ____ _____
13 – 16 15 ___ ___ ___ ____ _____
17 – 20 17 ___ ___ ___ ____ _____
21 – 24 15 ___ ___ ___ ____ _____
25 – 28 13 ___ ___ ___ ____ _____
29 – 32 12 ___ ___ ___ ____ _____
33 – 36 8 ___ ___ ___ ____ _____
37 – 40 7 ___ ___ ___ ____ _____
TOTAL 110 ___ _____

𝛴𝑓(𝑥−µ)2
σ=√
𝑁

σ = ____56____
Problem 2:

Find the standard deviation of the data given below:

Classs f
1 -4 3
5–8 8
9 – 12 12
13 – 16 15
17 – 20 17
21 – 24 15
25 – 28 13
29 – 32 12
33 – 36 8
37 – 40 7
TOTAL 110

Solution:

The first step in computing the standard is to compute the mean: Since it is not stated that the data is a
population, we presume that it is a sample data.

𝛴𝑓𝑥
ȳ= 𝑛

Two columns will be added, the x and the fx column in order to compute the mean.

Classs f x fx
1 -4 3 2.5 7.5
5–8 8 6.5 52.0
9 – 12 12 10.5 126.0
13 – 16 15 14.5 217.5
17 – 20 17 18.5 314.5
21 – 24 15 22.5 337.5
25 – 28 13 26.5 344.5
29 – 32 12 30.5 366.0
33 – 36 8 34.5 276.0
37 – 40 7 38.5 269.5
TOTAL 110 2,311

𝛴𝑓𝑥
ȳ= 𝑛
= ___57____
We add three columns to compute the standard deviation, the x-ȳ, (x-ȳ)2 and the f(x-ȳ)2 columns.
(complete the table b filing the blanks: 3 points)

Classs f x fx x-ȳ (x - ȳ)2 f(x - ȳ)2

1 -4 3 2.5 7.5 ___ ____ _____
5–8 8 6.5 52.0 ___ ____ _____
9 – 12 12 10.5 126.0 ___ ____ _____
13 – 16 15 14.5 217.5 ___ ____ _____
17 – 20 17 18.5 314.5 ___ ____ _____
21 – 24 15 22.5 337.5 ___ ____ _____
25 – 28 13 26.5 344.5 ___ ____ _____
29 – 32 12 30.5 366.0 ___ ____ _____
33 – 36 8 34.5 276.0 ___ ____ _____
37 – 40 7 38.5 269.5 ___ ____ _____
TOTAL 110 2,311 _____

𝛴𝑓(𝑥−ȳ)2
s=√
𝑛−1

s = ___61_____

Considering the given set of data as a sample data, we could also solve this using the alternate formula
in solving the sample standard deviation.

The first step is to present the data in tabular form: (complete the table by filling the blanks: 3 points)

Classs f x fx fx2
1 -4 3 2.5 7.5 ___
5–8 8 6.5 52.0 ___
9 – 12 12 10.5 126.0 ___
13 – 16 15 14.5 217.5 ___
17 – 20 17 18.5 314.5 ___
21 – 24 15 22.5 337.5 ___
25 – 28 13 26.5 344.5 ___
29 – 32 12 30.5 366.0 ___
33 – 36 8 34.5 276.0 ___
37 – 40 7 38.5 269.5 ___
TOTAL 110 2,311 ___
Substituting the values in the formula:

𝑛𝛴𝑓𝑋2−(𝛴𝑓𝑋)2
s=√ 𝑛(𝑛−1)

s = ____65____

Exercises:

1. Find the average deviation from the median and the standard deviation of the given set of data:
9, 4, 2, 6, 12, 15, 7, 7, 14, 8, 16, 12

2. Find the quartile deviation, the average deviation from the median and the standard deviation
of the given set of data:
Class f
0 -5 9
6 – 11 13
12 – 17 15
18 – 23 17
24 – 29 19
30 – 35 15
36 – 41 11
42 – 47 11
48 – 53 8
54 – 59 2
TOTAL 120