[quantity]The standard deviation of set 1, 5, 7, 19[/quantity]
[quantity]The standard deviation of the set 0, 5, 7, 20[/quantity]
A. Quantity A is greater.
B. Quantity B is greater.
C. The two quantities are equal.
D. The relationship cannot be determined from the information given.
Source:
Manhattan prep 5 lb. Chapter 33, section 2, Question 4
B. Textbook explanation: (B). Standard deviation measures the variance from the mean; the more spread out a set is, the higher the deviation. The set in Quantity B is the same as the one in Quantity A, but with the smallest number even smaller and the largest number even larger, so the set in Quantity B is more spread out and thus has a greater standard deviation.
Can someone check my understanding of the standard deviation for the GRE? Given the explanation of the textbook, it looks like we are measuring the distance from the mean regardless of the sign. So going from 1 to 0 adds a distance of 1 from the mean. Similarly, going from 19 to 20 adds a distance of 1 to the mean. Thus the standard deviation of quantity B is +2 STD units higher than quantity A?
What if quantity B was 1, 5, 7, 18? We gained a distance of 1 by going from 0 to 1, but we lost a distance of 1 by going from 19 to 18. Would the answer be C in this case? Thank you for explaining this!