Measures of Dispersion

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
𝑥ഥ = 𝑥ഥ =
 Measures of Dispersion
-tells us how much the observations spread out
from the mean.
-the higher the variability, the more dispersed
are the observations; the lower it is, the more
consistent are the observations.
-the range and the standard deviation are
statistical values that measure the spread or
dispersion of data.
 The Range
-the range of a set of data values
-is the difference between the greatest data
value
and the least data value.
- the range of a set of data is easy to compute,
but it can be deceiving.
- the range is a measure that depends only on
the two most extreme values, and as such it is
very sensitive.
 Machine 1 Machine 2
9.52 8.01
6.41 7.99
10.07 7.95
5.85 8.03
8.15 8.02

1. Find the range of the numbers of ounces

dispensed by Machine 1.
2. Find the range of the numbers of ounces
dispensed by Machine 2.
MATHMATTERS A World Record Range
Wadlow. On June 27, 1940,
Wadlow was 8 ft 11.1 in.
tall. The shortest man for
whom there is reliable
evidence is Gul
Mohammad. On July 19,
1990, he was 22.5 in. tall.
(Source: Guinness
World Records) The range
The tallest man for whom of the heights of these men
there is irrefutable evidence is ___________________.
was Robert Pershing
 The Standard Deviation
-a measure of dispersion that is less sensitive to
extreme values is the standard deviation.
- the standard deviation of a set of numerical
data makes use of the individual amount that
each data value deviates from the mean.
- these deviations, represented by (x - 𝑥),
ҧ
are positive when the data value x is greater
than the mean 𝑥ҧ and are negative when x is less
than the mean 𝑥.ҧ The sum of all the deviations
(x - 𝑥),
ҧ is 0 for all sets of data.
Machine 2: Deviations from the Mean

x (x - 𝑥)ҧ
8.01
7.99
7.95
8.03
8.02
Sum of deviations =
Because the sum of all the deviations of the data
values from the mean is always 0, we
cannot use the sum of the deviations as a
measure of dispersion for a set of data. Instead,
the standard deviation uses the sum of the
squares of the deviations.
 Standard Deviations for Populations
and Samples
If x1, x2, x3, ... , xn is a population of n numbers
with a mean of , then the standard deviation of
the population is

Σ ( x – μ )2
σ =
𝑛
If x1, x2, x3, ... , xn is a sample of n numbers with
a mean of x, then the standard deviation of the
sample is

Σ ( x – x )2
s=
𝑛−1
 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 of the deviations 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.
 Example:
The following numbers were obtained by
sampling a population.
2, 4, 7, 12, 15
Find the standard deviation of the sample.
 Use Standard Deviations
A consumer group has tested a sample of 8 size-D
batteries from each of 3 companies. The results of the
tests are shown in the following table. According to
these tests, which company produces batteries for
which the values representing hours of constant use
have the smallest standard deviation?

Company Hours of constant use per battery

EverSoBright 6.2, 6.4, 7.1, 5.9, 8.3, 5.3, 7.5, 9.3
Dependable 6.8, 6.2, 7.2, 5.9, 7.0, 7.4, 7.3, 8.2
Beacon 6.1, 6.6, 7.3, 5.7, 7.1, 7.6, 7.1, 8.5
 The Variance

-A statistic known as the variance 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
𝜎 −is the standard deviation of a population.
𝜎2 −is the variance of a population.
s - is the standard deviation of a sample.
s2 -is the variance of a sample.
Find the range, the standard deviation, and the
variance for the given samples. Round noninteger
results to the nearest tenth. ( 18 points )

1. 1, 2, 5, 7, 8, 19, 22
2. 2.1, 3.0, 1.9, 1.5, 4.8
3. 48, 91, 87, 93, 59, 68, 92, 100, 81
II. Solving Problem ( 2 points )
During a 12-hour period on December 24, 1924,
the temperature in Fairfield, Montana, dropped
from a high of 63°F to a low of -21F. What was the
range of the temperatures during this period?
(Source: National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration)