Variance (Data)

{
  "id": "MLC-T-ENV-029531",
  "term": "Variance (Data)",
  "field": "Environment",
  "definition": "1. Measure of the spread of a distribution, equal to the square of the standard deviation (SD). Calculated as the average of the squares of the deviations of the observations from their mean. Variance is referred to as the second central moment of a distribution.\n\n2. A measure of the variation shown by a set of observations, defined by the sum of the squares of deviations from the mean, divided by the number of degrees of freedom in the set of observations. [Last 1983]\n\n3. Measure of variability, standard deviation squared.\n\n4. Measure of the dispersion shown by a set of observations, defined by the sum of the squares of deviations from the mean, divided by the number of degrees of freedom in the set of observations.",
  "references": [
    "EPA Definitions of Terms Relevant to PRA and References for Further Reading at http://www.epa.gov/oswer/riskassessment/rags3adt/pdf/appendixe.pdf",
    "MRA Thesaurus",
    "Adapted from Benchmark Dose Software (BMDS) Glossary of Terms",
    "CDC Epidemiology Glossary"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/environment/variance-data/"
}