Google

When calculating the standard deviation to simply describe a sample, the sum of squared differences is divided by $$N$$. However, when the goal is to estimate the standard deviation of the broader population, researchers divide by $$N - 1$$ to correct for the tendency of a sample's standard deviation to underestimate the population's true variability.

Sample versus Population Standard Deviation

When calculating standard deviation, why do researchers divide the sum of squared differences by N - 1 instead of N when estimating the broader population?

Learn Before

Related