Variance Calculator
Calculate sample or population variance, the sum of squared deviations and the divisor used.
Your inputs
Results
Sample variance (s²)
4.6666666667
- Sum of squared deviations
- 14
- Divisor used
- 3
- Mean
- 3
✓Exact calculation — rounded only for display
What this calculator does
Variance is the average squared distance from the mean; standard deviation is its square root.
Formula and method
Variance = Σ(x − mean)² ÷ (n − 1) for a sample, or ÷ n for a population
Worked example
Calculated by this tool with its default inputs:
Inputs
- Numbers (separated by commas, spaces or new lines): 6, 2, 3, 1
- Data is a: Sample (divide by n − 1)
Results
- Sample variance (s²): 4.6666666667
- Sum of squared deviations: 14
- Divisor used: 3
- Mean: 3
How to read the results
Variance is in squared units, which is why standard deviation is usually easier to interpret.
Assumptions and limitations
- Requires at least two values.
Questions
Why square the deviations?
So positive and negative deviations do not cancel, and larger deviations count more.
Methodology and verification
- Result type
- Exact mathematical calculation (rounded only for display)
- Formula version
- 1.0
- Automated verification
- 3 reference and validation test cases, checked against independently computed values. The site cannot be built if any of them fail.
- Editorial review
- Awaiting human editorial review. The explanation was drafted with AI assistance; the formula and examples are verified by the automated tests above.
Privacy
Everything you enter is calculated in this browser and is not sent to Numerith or anyone else. Inputs are added to a share link only if you choose to include them. Privacy policy