The purpose of this assignment was to measure the standard deviation of measured dogs. The question to answer here was simply: how do you determine it? To answer this question, I found that I must find the mean, find the difference from the mean (and each number), square the result, find the mean of the squared differences, then find the squared root.

To find the standard deviation for the group of dogs, I had to follow the steps outlined above. After proceeding through each step (see attached Plectica Map), I found the answer to be 147mm.

So, why is the standard deviation of 147mm important? This is because we can now show which heights are within one standard deviation (147mm) of the mean. So, using the standard deviation, we have a “standard” way of knowing what is normal, and what is extra large or extra small.

See Plectia Map here: Summer 2019 (Tests and Measurements example)