Question 1

What is descriptive statistics?

Accepted Answer

Descriptive statistics summarize and describe the main features of a dataset. They include measures of central tendency (mean, median, mode) and measures of variability (variance, standard deviation, range).

Question 2

What is the difference between mean and median?

Accepted Answer

The mean is the average of all numbers (sum divided by count). The median is the middle value when numbers are sorted. Mean is sensitive to outliers, while median is more robust.

Question 3

When is mode useful?

Accepted Answer

Mode is the most frequently occurring value in a dataset. It's useful for categorical data and identifying the most common value. A dataset can have no mode (all values unique) or multiple modes (ties).

Question 4

What is the difference between population and sample variance?

Accepted Answer

Population variance divides by n (number of values). Sample variance divides by n-1 (Bessel's correction). This calculator uses population variance. For sample variance, divide by n-1 instead of n.

Question 5

Can I use negative numbers?

Accepted Answer

Yes, the calculator accepts negative numbers. All statistical measures (mean, median, variance, etc.) work correctly with negative values.

Question 6

What happens if all numbers are the same?

Accepted Answer

If all numbers are identical, the mean, median, and mode will all equal that value. Variance and standard deviation will be 0, indicating no variability.

Question 7

How is standard deviation calculated?

Accepted Answer

Standard deviation is the square root of variance. It measures how spread out the data is. A smaller standard deviation means data points are closer to the mean.

Question 8

What if my dataset has no mode?

Accepted Answer

If no value appears more than once (or all values appear equally), the dataset has no mode. The calculator will display 'No mode' in this case.

Question 9

Can I use decimal numbers?

Accepted Answer

Yes, the calculator fully supports decimal numbers. Enter them as you would normally (e.g., 3.5, 7.25, 10.8).

Question 10

What is the range?

Accepted Answer

Range is the difference between the maximum and minimum values in the dataset. It's the simplest measure of variability, showing the spread of the data.

Question 11

How accurate are the calculations?

Accepted Answer

The calculator uses standard mathematical formulas and JavaScript's floating-point arithmetic. Results are accurate for most practical purposes, though very large or very small numbers may have precision limitations.

Descriptive Statistics Calculator

Calculator

How to Calculate

Examples

Example 1: Simple dataset

Example 2: Dataset with mode

Example 3: Larger dataset

Frequently Asked Questions