Understanding Sample Variance and Population Variance

Understanding Sample Variance and Population Variance

Assessment

Interactive Video

Created by

Amelia Wright

Mathematics, Computers, Education

10th - 12th Grade

Hard

The video tutorial explains a simulation created by a Khan Academy user to understand why we divide by n minus 1 when calculating sample variance. It guides viewers through constructing a population, calculating its parameters, and taking samples to determine the best estimate for population variance. The simulation shows that dividing by n minus 1 provides an unbiased estimate, as demonstrated through various sample sizes and calculations.

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10 questions

Show all answers

1.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

What is the main purpose of the simulation created by TETF?

To find the mean of a sample

To understand why we divide by n minus 1 for sample variance

To learn how to construct a population

To calculate the exact population variance

2.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

What happens when you click in the blue area of the simulation?

It decreases the population size

It calculates the sample variance

It increases the population size

It resets the simulation

3.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

What is calculated as the square root of the population variance?

Sample variance

Population standard deviation

Population mean

Sample mean

4.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

What does the simulation do every time a sample is taken?

It calculates the sample mean

It calculates the variance

It decreases the sample size

It increases the sample size

5.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

What is the effect of high values of 'a' on variance estimation?

It calculates the exact variance

It has no effect

It underestimates the variance

It overestimates the variance

6.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

What happens when 'a' is close to negative 1?

The best estimate of variance is achieved

The variance is not calculated

The variance is underestimated

The variance is overestimated

7.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

What is the result of dividing by n or n plus 0.05?

No estimation of variance

Overestimation of variance

Underestimation of variance

Exact estimation of variance

8.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

What is the significance of dividing by n minus 1?

It provides an exact variance

It gives an unbiased estimate of population variance

It underestimates the variance

It overestimates the variance

9.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

What is the conclusion about the best estimate for variance?

It is achieved when dividing by n plus 1

It is achieved when dividing by n

It is achieved when dividing by n plus 2

It is achieved when dividing by n minus 1

10.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

What does the speaker thank TETF for?

Developing a new statistical formula

Creating a new population

Providing a new way to calculate mean

Offering an interesting way to understand variance

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