document.write( "Question 125783: When calculating standard deviation, why do we use (n-1) for sample datasets, but just (N) for population datasets? \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #92453 by stanbon(75887) $\"\"$ $\"About$

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Using N as the denominator gives a smaller variation
\n" ); document.write( "of the normal spread of the data; we can have confidence
\n" ); document.write( "in this smaller spread because the data is the entire
\n" ); document.write( "population being considered.
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\n" ); document.write( "Using n-1 as the denominator gives a larger variation
\n" ); document.write( "of the normal spread of the data; we are less confident
\n" ); document.write( "of the actual spread of the population data because
\n" ); document.write( "we have only a sample.
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\n" ); document.write( "Cheers,
\n" ); document.write( "Stan H. \n" ); document.write( "

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