Buzz
An in-depth tutorial on how to calculate standard deviation (sd) using a TI-84 calculator
Utilizing the TI-84 for Standard Deviation
Follow these steps: Access lists by pressing STAT, Edit, then Enter. Input your values into the L1 column, proceed to STAT and right arrow to access the CALC tab. Choose 1-Var stats, then press 2ND and 1, and select Calculate from the menu. The standard deviation will be displayed alongside Sx for a sample and σx for a population.
Guidelines
Press the STAT button on your calculator, located in the third column of keys.
Navigate to the Edit menu and select Enter. This option is the first one listed, with columns labeled L1 through L6.
Remember, the TI-84 enables you to input up to six different data sets.
To clear existing data from the lists: Go to L1, press Clear, then Enter. Repeat for other lists if necessary.
Input your data set into the L1 column. Hit Enter after each value.
Press the STAT button to return to the menu.
Switch to the CALC tab by pressing the right-arrow. It's the second tab at the top of the screen.
Select 1-Var Stats and press Enter.
Press the 2ND button, then 1 to select L1. You may need to do this on a T1-84 Plus model if 'L1' isn't already displayed next to 'List.'
Tip: To select a different list, press the corresponding number. For example, press 2ND and then 4 for L4.
Select Calculate and press Enter. The TI-84 will display standard deviation calculations for the set of values.
Look for the standard deviation value next to Sx or σx. These should be the 4th and 5th results in the list. You might need to scroll down to see both values. Sx indicates standard deviation for a sample, while σx indicates standard deviation for a population. The value you choose depends on whether you used data from a sample or a full population. A lower standard deviation value suggests less variation from the mean, while a higher value suggests more spread out data. x̄ represents the mean or average of the values, and Σx represents the sum of all values.
