Question

what does a standard deviation measure in a dataset?
a. the total number of data points
b. the dispersion or spread around the mean
c. the average of all data points
d. the difference between the highest and lowest values

Explanation:

• Option a: The total number of data points is the sample size (n), not standard deviation.
• Option b: Standard deviation quantifies how much data points deviate from the mean, i.e., dispersion/spread around the mean.
• Option c: The average of all data points is the mean, not standard deviation.
• Option d: The difference between the highest and lowest values is the range, not standard deviation.

Answer:

b. The dispersion or spread around the mean