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Data & Analytics · Intermediate

Coefficient of Variation (CV)

The standard deviation divided by the mean, often given as a percentage, used to compare variability across datasets with different scales.

Definition

CV is unitless, so it can compare the variability of, for example, prices in dollars and weights in kilograms. It is meaningful only for ratio-scale data with a positive mean.

Example

SD 10 on mean 200 gives CV = 5%.

Exam tip

Comparing variability across different units or scales = coefficient of variation.

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