What is the difference in standard deviation based on n and standard deviation based on n-1? I ask this because I am studying to be a surveyor, and everything we call "standard deviation" is based on n-1, but that's treated as a secondary calculation on all the calculators where "standard deviation" is understood by default to be based on n. The n-based function is easy to find, but the n-1 function has different names and is selected from different places on the calculator. And even though the Ghilani surveying textbook defines n-1 as standard deviation, it's a different result than the standard deviation operation on the calculator menu (based on n). Can you explain why surveyors care about n-1 instead of n?

Glencoe Algebra 1, Student Edition, 9780079039897, 0079039898, 2018
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ISBN:9780079039897
Author:Carter
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Chapter10: Statistics
Section10.3: Measures Of Spread
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What is the difference in standard deviation based on n and standard deviation based on n-1?

I ask this because I am studying to be a surveyor, and everything we call "standard deviation" is based on n-1, but that's treated as a secondary calculation on all the calculators where "standard deviation" is understood by default to be based on n. The n-based function is easy to find, but the n-1 function has different names and is selected from different places on the calculator. And even though the Ghilani surveying textbook defines n-1 as standard deviation, it's a different result than the standard deviation operation on the calculator menu (based on n).

Can you explain why surveyors care about n-1 instead of n?

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