What is the standard deviation?

The standard deviation is defined as the square root of the variance. Variance measures how much the values in a dataset differ from the mean, providing an indication of the spread or dispersion of the data. By taking the square root of the variance, the standard deviation gives a measure of spread that is in the same units as the original data. This is important because it allows for more intuitive interpretations of variability within the dataset, making it easier to understand the extent to which individual data points differ from the average.

In contrast to other options, variance squared does not define standard deviation; instead, it is the opposite relationship, where standard deviation is derived from variance. The highest value in the dataset does not relate to standard deviation, as it simply identifies a data point rather than measuring spread. Similarly, the average of absolute deviations does not calculate standard deviation; it is a distinct measure of variability that considers absolute differences without squaring the deviations. Thus, understanding standard deviation as the square root of variance is essential for interpreting data dispersion accurately.