3 ms·
The averaging of absolute values in the article's context is happening around a mean of 0(averaging the variations). In general, one would average the absolute
by enugu 10y ago
The averaging of absolute values in the article's context is happening around a mean of 0(averaging the variations). In general, one would average the absolute values of the difference from the mean.
Yes, it would be silly to convert a -20 to 20 if the mean isn't 0.
The advantage with STD is that it is easier to compute relative to MAD in a situation like a random walk. For instance when one has a +1, -1 equal probability one dimensional random walk, so the mean is 0, X = sum of X_i, E(X²) = n is straightforward, whereas computing E(|X|) is not so easy.
- Tloewald 10y agoThat's as clear as mud. What does a -20 vs. a 20 mean? That it was colder at noon than at midnight? Assuming that there was some sensible definition (e.g. deviation from the past mean temperature, which is not at all what was stated) then "average deviation" has two obvious interpretations. Re-labeling "standard deviation" or "mean deviation" would not be helpful in this case, and the -20 and 20 values STILL don't help the case.
- enugu 10y agoThe article isn't clear but the deviation is either from the sample mean or the mean of the underlying random variable. You are trying to find the expected difference from the average and hence the absolute value(otherwise, the positive and negative deviations cancel out).
- Tloewald 10y agoAverage max, min, or average average?