Math

Variance Calculator

Find the variance of a list of numbers, the average squared distance of each value from the mean.

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The result is the population variance of the numbers entered, so a larger value means the numbers are more spread out around their mean.

Formula

Population variance = average of (each value − mean) squared.

How it works

Type numbers separated by commas. The calculator finds the mean, squares each difference from it, and averages those squares.

Worked example

For example, the numbers 4, 8, 15, 16, 23 and 42 have a mean of 18, the squared differences from the mean add to 910, and 910 divided by 6 gives a population variance of 151.6667.

FAQs

What does the Variance do?
It takes the values you enter and works out the variance for you, showing the result straight away.

What should I enter?
Enter ordinary numbers in the boxes above. If a value does not make sense for this calculation, the page will ask you to check it instead of showing a wrong answer.

Can I use the result for homework or everyday math?
Yes. It is a general-purpose math helper; for exam or professional work, still check the steps against your own working.

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