Module #5

Measures of Spread or Variability

Introduction

In the previous chapters, we discovered how valuable frequency tables and graphs are in discerning
patterns of variations and certain important features of a mass of data. We also realized how general and
inadequate these characteristics are. In this chapter, we shall consider some descriptive measures that will
allow us to make more specific quantitative statements concerning a set of data. Among such measures are
the Measures of Central Tendency, which are generally referred to as “averages” and the Measures of
Variability or “spread”. These measures are intended to describe precisely the center or middle as well as the
distribution of the data from the center.

Learning Content
1. Range, Variance and Standard Deviation of Ungrouped Data
2. Range, Variance and Standard Deviation of Grouped Data

Learning Outcomes
1. Solve for the measures of central tendency and variability in a given set of data.
2. Analyze a given data using the information from the measures of variability.
3. Discuss the importance of the measures of variability.

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5.1 MEASURES OF VARIABILITY OF UNGROUPED DATA
The measures of central tendency are not enough to provide complete and useful data and
information. There is a need to support them with other computational measures of description,
commonly known as the measures of variability.

The measures of variability indicate the degree or extent to which numerical values are
dispersed or spread out about the average value in a distribution. The more popularly used measures
of variability, such as the range, variance and standard deviation, will be discussed in this lesson.

5.1.1 The Range (R)

The range (R) is defined as the difference between the highest value (HV) and the lowest
value (LV) in the data. That is, 𝑅 = 𝐻𝑉 − 𝐿𝑉.

Example: Find the range in the following sets of data.

A: 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 22, 23, 24
B: 3, 7, 10, 12, 20, 25, 28, 35, 40

Solution:
A. R = 24 – 15 = 9
B. R = 40 – 3 = 37

We observed that the range merely measures how far the highest value is from the lowest
value. The fact that it does not tell anything about the scores between these two values makes
it a very weak measure of variation. The only advantage it has over the other two measures is
that it is easily determined.

5.1.2 The Variance (𝝈𝟐 𝐨𝐫 𝒔𝟐 )

The variance is the average squared deviation from the mean. It uses the symbol 𝝈𝟐 or 𝒔𝟐
(the former is used for population data while the latter is used for sample data). The formula
for the variance is expressed as

∑(𝑋−𝜇)2 ∑(𝑋−𝑥̅ )2
𝜎2 = for population data and 𝑠2 = for sample data.
𝑁 𝑛−1

Note: For the sake of learning, we are going to use the formula for population data in solving
the variance and standard deviation from hereon.

Steps in Solving the Variance

1. Find the mean of the data. (round off to the nearest whole number)
2. Subtract the mean from each value.
3. Square each deviation of the mean.
4. Find the sum of the squares.
5. Substitute in the formula.

Note: For the sake of learning, we are going to use the formula for population data in solving
the variance and standard deviation from hereon.

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 Example 1: Calculate the variance of the following data:
8, 9, 10, 12, 17, 18, 18, 19, 20, 21

Solution:

Step 1: Solve for the mean.

8 + 9 + 10 + 12 + 17 + 18 + 18 + 19 + 20 + 21
𝑋̅ = = 15.2 ≈ 15
10

Step 2 – 4:

X ̅)
(𝑿 − 𝑿 ̅ )𝟐
(𝑿 − 𝑿 Substituting the value in our formula:
8 -7 49 ∑(𝑋−𝑋̅ )2 218
𝜎2 = = = 𝟐𝟏. 𝟖
10 10
9 -6 36
10 -5 25
12 -3 9
17 2 4
18 3 9
18 3 9
19 4 16
20 5 25
21 6 36
∑(𝑋 − 𝑋̅)2
= 218

Example 2: Which of the following data is more variable? Hint: higher value for Variance
means more variability.

a. 10, 15, 19, 26, 28

b. 62, 65, 68, 71, 75

4.3.3 The Standard Deviation ( or s)

While the variance is particularly useful in advanced statistical analyses, it is not very useful a
a measure of variability because of the way it is expressed. Because the observations are
squared, the unit of measurement is also squared. In order to get back to the original unit, we
must extract the principal root of the variance to obtain the standard deviation, which is by
far the most reliable measure of variability.

∑(𝑋−𝜇)2 ∑(𝑋−𝑥̅ )2
𝜎=√ and 𝑠 = √
𝑁 𝑛−1

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 In example 1 in variance, the computed variance is 21.8. To find for the standard deviation,
we simply take the square root of 21.8 to get 4.67. Thus, the standard deviation of the data set
is 4.67.

More Examples: Solve for the standard deviation of the following data:

a. 10, 15, 19, 26, 28 b. 62, 65, 68, 71, 75

5.2 MEASURES OF VARIABILITY OF GROUPED DATA

Solving for the measures of variability for grouped data is the same as that of the ungrouped data,
except that instead of working with the individual scores, we are going to use the class marks of every
interval.

5.2.1 Range of Grouped Data

The range for grouped data is estimated by subtracting the lower boundary of the lowest
class interval from the upper boundary of the highest interval. In formula, 𝑅 = 𝑈𝐵ℎ − 𝐿𝐵𝑙 .

Let’s try to solve for the range of the test scores found on table 1.1.

TABLE 1.1
FREQUENCY DISTRIBUTION OF THE TEST SCORES
OF FIFTY (50) STUDENTS IN STATISTICS

Class Interval Frequency

(X) (f)
20-24 2
25-29 6
30-34 9
35-39 10
40-44 12
45-49 7
50-54 4
i=5 n = 50

R = UBh – LBl
= 54.5 – 19.5
= 35

Therefore, the range of the scores is 35.

5.2.2 Variance and Standard Deviation

The variance and standard deviation of grouped data are obtained in much the same way as
we obtain those of ungrouped data. The procedure in solving the variance is:

1. Calculate the mean (round off to whole number).

2. Subtract the mean from each class mark.
3. Square each deviation obtained in step 2.

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 4. Multiply each squared deviation by the corresponding frequency.
5. Take the sum of the results in step 4.
6. Divide the sum in step 5 by n – 1 if the values constitute a sample, or by N if they
constitute a population.

Symbolically, we get

∑ 𝑓(𝑋𝑚 −𝜇)2 ∑ 𝑓(𝑋𝑚−𝑥̅ )2

𝜎2 = and 𝑠2 =
𝑁 𝑛−1

Note: Just like in ungrouped data, we will make use of the first formula in order for us to
arrive with the same answers.

Example: Find the variance of the test scores found in Table 1.1

Solution:

In here, it is best to use a table to have an organized solution.

X f Xm fXm 𝑿̅ 𝑿−𝑿 ̅ (𝑿 − 𝑿̅ )𝟐 f(𝑿 − 𝑿̅ )𝟐

20-24 2 22 44 38 -16 256 512
25-29 6 27 162 -11 121 726
30-34 9 32 288 -6 36 324
35-39 10 37 370 -1 1 10
40-44 12 42 504 4 16 192
45-49 7 47 329 9 81 567
50-54 4 52 208 14 196 784
i=5 n = 50 Σ=1905 Σ=3115

∑ 𝑓(𝑋𝑚 − 𝜇)2 3115

𝜎2 = = = 𝟔𝟐. 𝟑
𝑁 50

𝜎 = √𝜎 2 = √62.3 = 𝟕. 𝟖𝟗

Therefore, the variance is 62.3, with a standard deviation of 7.89.

TRY THIS!
Compute for the range, variance and standard deviation of the table on the daily allowances of 70
students enrolled in LORMA Colleges.

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 Daily Allowance of
BS Nursing Students

Daily Allowance (in Pesos) Frequency

500 – 549 2

450 – 499 3

400 – 449 1

350 – 399 3

300 – 349 4

250 – 299 14

200 – 249 12

150 – 199 21

100 – 149 10

References
Febre, F. (1987). Introduction to Statistics. Quezon City. Phoenix Publishing House.

Selvamuthu, D. and Das, D. (2018). Introduction to Statistical Methods, Design of Experiments and

Statistical Quality Control. Singapore. Springer.

Aufmann, R. et. al.(2013) Mathematical Excursions(3rd Edition). California. Cengage Learning.

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