Related Formula
The standard statistical variance equation for a sample size n$n$ is defined as:
σ² = (Σ xᵢ²)/(n) - ( x)²$$\sigma^2 = \frac{\sum x_i^2}{n} - (\bar{x})^2$$
Core Logic
Calculate the initial incorrect \sum of observations using the given incorrect mean:
xold = 5.5 = Σ xold10 Σ xold = 55$$\bar{x}_{\text{old}} = 5.5 = \frac{\sum x_{\text{old}}}{10} \implies \sum x_{\text{old}} = 55$$
The given incorrect \sum of squares is:
Σ xold² = 371$$\sum x_{\text{old}}^2 = 371$$
Step 1: Compute Corrected Sum of Observations
Adjust the linear \sum by subtracting the incorrect inputs and adding the true values:
Σ xnew = 55 - (4 + 5) + (6 + 8) = 55 - 9 + 14 = 60$$\sum x_{\text{new}} = 55 - (4 + 5) + (6 + 8) = 55 - 9 + 14 = 60$$
Calculate the new corrected mean value:
xnew = (60)/(10) = 6$$\bar{x}_{\text{new}} = \frac{60}{10} = 6$$
Step 2: Compute Corrected Sum of Squares
Adjust the \sum of squares by swapping the squared entries:
Σ xnew² = 371 - (4² + 5²) + (6² + 8²)$$\sum x_{\text{new}}^2 = 371 - (4^2 + 5^2) + (6^2 + 8^2)$$
Σ xnew² = 371 - (16 + 25) + (36 + 64)$$\sum x_{\text{new}}^2 = 371 - (16 + 25) + (36 + 64)$$
Σ xnew² = 371 - 41 + 100 = 430$$\sum x_{\text{new}}^2 = 371 - 41 + 100 = 430$$
Step 3: Calculate Corrected Variance
Substitute the corrected values into the standard variance formula:
σnew² = Σ xnew²10 - ( xnew)²$$\sigma_{\text{new}}^2 = \frac{\sum x_{\text{new}}^2}{10} - (\bar{x}_{\text{new}})^2$$
σnew² = (430)/(10) - (6)² = 43 - 36 = 7$$\sigma_{\text{new}}^2 = \frac{430}{10} - (6)^2 = 43 - 36 = 7$$
Pattern Recognition
When updating statistical aggregates like mean and variance after data correction, always compute the corrected linear \sum and \sum of squares separately before recombining them into the variance formula.
Chapter Mix
Class 11 Mathematics: Statistics