How do you calculate the standard deviation of a data set?

In South Africa, Grade 10 students learn about standard deviation in their math and statistics classes. To calculate the standard deviation of a data set, use the formula:

[ \sigma = \sqrt{\frac{\sum_{i=1}^{N} (x_{i} - \overline{x})^2}{N}} ]

Where:

• (\sigma) = standard deviation
• (x_{i}) = each individual value
• (\overline{x}) = mean of the data set
• (N) = total number of values

This calculation helps measure the amount of variation or dispersion in a data set, providing valuable insights for analysis.