MEASURES OF

DISPERSIONS
MEASURES OF DISPERSIONS
 In statistics, dispersion(also called variability,
scatter or spread) is the extent to which a
distribution is stretched or squeezed.
 Common examples of measures of statistical
dispersion are the range, variance and
standard deviation.
 MEASURES OF DISPERSIONS
THE RANGE 

The range of a set of data values is the difference between the greatest data value
and the least data value.
Example 6. FIND A RANGE

Given the table below, find the range of the numbers of ounces dispensed by Machine 1
Soda Dispensed (ounces)
Machine 1 Machine 2
9.52 8.01
6.41 7.99
10.07 7.95
5.85 8.03
8.15 8.02

Solution:
The greatest number ounces dispensed is 10.07 and the least is 5.85. The range of
the number ounces dispensed is 10.07 – 5.85 = 4.22 oz.
 ANSWER!!

Check Your Progress 6

Given the table below, find the range of the numbers of ounces dispensed
by Machine 2
Soda Dispensed (ounces)
Machine 1 Machine 2
9.52 8.01
6.41 7.99
10.07 7.95
5.85 8.03
8.15 8.02
 MEASURES OF DISPERSIONS
THE STANDARD DEVIATION 

  If x1, x2, x3, …, xn is a population of n numbers with a mean of , then the

standard deviation of the population
.
If x1, x2, x3, …, xn is a sample of n numbers with a mean of , then the
standard deviation of the sample
.
 
Procedure for Computing a Standard Deviation
1. Determine the mean of the n numbers.
2. For each number, calculate the deviation (difference) between the number
and the mean of the numbers.
3. Calculate the square of each deviation and find the sum of these squared
deviations.
4. If the data is a population, then divide the sum by n. If the data is a sample,
then divide the sum by n-1.
5. Find the square root of the quotient in step 4.
 MEASURES OF DISPERSIONS
Example 7. FIND THE STANDARD DEVIATION

The following numbers were obtained by sampling a population.

2, 4, 7, 12, 15
Find the standard deviation of the sample.

Solution:

Step 1: Calculate the mean.

  =
Step 2. Calculate the deviation between the mean and
the number
x
  ´𝒙 =𝟖
2 2 – 8 = -6
4 4 – 8 = -4
7 7 – 8= -1
12 12 – 8 = 4
15 15 – 8 = 7

Step 3. Calculate the square of each deviation in step 2, and find the sum of these
squared deviation.
x
2 2 – 8 = -6
4 4 – 8 = -4 The sum of the
squared
7 7 – 8= -1
deviations.
12 12 – 8 = 4
15 15 – 8 = 7
118
Step 4. The data is a sample, then divide the sum by n-1.

Because we have a sample of n=5 values, we divide the sum 118 by

n – 1, which is 4.
118/4=29.5

Step 5. Find the square root of the quotient in step 4.

 
The standard deviation of the sample is s = . To the nearest hundredth, the
standard deviation is 5.43.
Another solution:
x
 You need to construct first a 2 2 – 8 = -6
table that shows the and to 4 4 – 8 = -4
get the 7 7 – 8= -1
12 12 – 8 = 4

𝒙´ =𝟖
  15 15 – 8 = 7
  
𝑛=5
 

Using the formula

 ANSWER!!

Check Your Progress 7

1. A sample of 4 students was taken to see how many pencils they

were carrying.
Calculate the sample standard deviation of their responses: 2, 2, 5, 7

2. As student has the following quiz scores: 5, 8, 16, 17, 18, 20. Find
the standard deviation for this population of quiz scores.
(Hint: Divide the sum by n instead of n-1)
MEASURES OF DISPERSIONS
THE VARIANCE 
 It is also used as a measure of dispersion.
 The variance for a given set of data is the square of the standard deviation of
the data.

 Notations for Standard Deviation and Variance

 = is the standard deviation of a population

 is the variance of a population.
 s = is the standard deviation of a sample.
 s2 = is the variance of a sample.
 The following numbers were
Example 8. FIND THE VARIANCE obtained by sampling a population.
2, 4, 7, 12, 15
Find the variance for the sample given in Example 7. Find the VARIANCE of the sample.

Solution:

 In Example 7, we found s = . The variance is the square of the standard deviation.
Thus, the variance is
s2 = = 29. 5
 ANSWER!!

Check Your Progress 8

Activity 4. Measures of
Dispersion 

Reference:
“Mathematical Excursions, Second Edition” Richard N. Aufmann, Joanne S. Lockwood,
Richard D. Nation, Daniel K. Clegg
“Mathematis in the Modern World” Outcome Based Education, Rex Book Store
Incorporated 2018
 THANK YOU!!
GOD BLESS 

PREPARED BY
MS. EDESA L.
JARABEJO