Statistics Question - Find Standard Deviation of 5 numbers but only 4 given.

AI Thread Summary
To calculate the sample standard deviation for a set of five numbers, only four deviations from the mean are provided, leading to confusion about the missing fifth value. The mean can be expressed as the sum of all five numbers divided by five, which helps in determining the necessary fifth deviation. The discussion emphasizes that understanding the relationship between the known deviations and the mean is crucial for solving the problem. Participants are encouraged to clarify how to express the mean and utilize the given deviations to find the standard deviation. Overall, the conversation highlights the importance of recognizing how to work with incomplete data in statistical calculations.
JiHbE
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For a sample of size 5, if x1 - x̄ = -5, x2 - x̄ = 9, x3 - x̄ = -7, and x4 - x̄ = -2, then the sample standard deviation is:
Choose one answer.
a. 5.639
b. 6.782
c. None of the other answers are correct
d. 6.305
e. 6.066

Please note that x̄ is x-bar (mean of sample).


This question has been puzzling me. At first I thought there was an error because only 4 numbers are listed but it says there sample size is 5. But, this is a valid question.

So, I'm going to need the x5- x̄ value in order to calculate the standard deviation.
This is where I'm lost... could someone please provide some assistance?

Thank you so much for your time.
 
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Can you express the mean in terms of x1 to x5? Rewriting that equation a bit will give you x5 - xmean.
 
JiHbE said:
For a sample of size 5, if x1 - x̄ = -5, x2 - x̄ = 9, x3 - x̄ = -7, and x4 - x̄ = -2, then the sample standard deviation is:
Choose one answer.
a. 5.639
b. 6.782
c. None of the other answers are correct
d. 6.305
e. 6.066

Please note that x̄ is x-bar (mean of sample).

This question has been puzzling me. At first I thought there was an error because only 4 numbers are listed but it says there sample size is 5. But, this is a valid question.

So, I'm going to need the x5- x̄ value in order to calculate the standard deviation.
This is where I'm lost... could someone please provide some assistance?

Thank you so much for your time.
Hello JiHbE. Welcome to PF !

What is \ \ x_1+x_2+x_3+x_4+x_5-5\cdot\bar{x}\ ?
 
Can you tell me how you typed x-bar? :)

What I do know is that:

mean = (x1 + x2 + x3+ x4 + x5)/5

Therefore,

5mean = (x1 + x2 + x3 + x4 + x5)
 
JiHbE said:
Can you tell me how you typed x-bar? :)
You can see the code via the "quote" button in his post.

Therefore,

5mean = (x1 + x2 + x3 + x4 + x5)
Right. Now you can use your knowledge about ##x_1-\bar{x}## and so on.
 
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