Collect the data values (x_1, x_2, dots, x_n)
Compute the mean: (mu = frac{1}{n}sum_{i=1}^{n} x_i)
Compute squared deviations: ((x_i – mu)^2)
Sum squared deviations: (sum_{i=1}^{n} (x_i – mu)^2)
If using population standard deviation:
(sigma = sqrt{frac{1}{n}sum_{i=1}^{n} (x_i – mu)^2})
If using sample standard deviation:
(s = sqrt{frac{1}{n-1}sum_{i=1}^{n} (x_i – bar{x})^2})
where (bar{x} = frac{1}{n}sum_{i=1}^{n} x_i)
Report the resulting (sigma) (population) or (s) (sample)