Standard Deviation Calculator

Calculate Mean, Variance, SD & visualize the Bell Curve.

Use Sample if your data is a part of a larger group.
Accepts commas, spaces, or new lines.
Data Count (N): 0
Sorted: -

Sample Standard Deviation (s)

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Central Tendency

Mean (Average)

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Median (Middle)

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Mode (Frequent)

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Dispersion & Range

Variance

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Range (Max - Min)

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Sum (Σ)

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Sum of Squares (SS)

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Normal Distribution (Bell Curve)

Step-by-Step Calculation

# Value ($x$) Difference ($x - \bar{x}$) Squared Diff $(x - \bar{x})^2$

What is Standard Deviation?

[Image of normal distribution bell curve]

Standard Deviation (SD) is a measure of how spread out numbers are in a dataset. It tells you how far each number is from the mean (average).

  • Low SD: Data points are clustered close to the mean (consistent).
  • High SD: Data points are spread out over a wide range (volatile).

Sample vs. Population SD

Choosing the right mode is crucial for accuracy:

  • Population SD ($\sigma$): Use this when you have data for the *entire* group you are studying (e.g., the heights of *every single student* in a class). The formula divides by N.
  • Sample SD ($s$): Use this when you only have a *subset* of the group (e.g., a survey of 10 people representing a city). The formula divides by N - 1 (Bessel's Correction).

The Formulas

1. Calculate Mean ($\bar{x}$)

$\bar{x} = \frac{\sum x}{N}$

2. Calculate Variance

Sample Variance ($s^2$): $\frac{\sum (x - \bar{x})^2}{N - 1}$

Population Variance ($\sigma^2$): $\frac{\sum (x - \bar{x})^2}{N}$

3. Calculate Standard Deviation

It is simply the square root of the Variance.
SD = $\sqrt{Variance}$