A statistician is comparing two datasets. If Dataset A has a mean of 50 and a standard deviation of 5, and Dataset B has a mean of 55 and a standard deviation of 7, which dataset has a higher coefficient of variation, and what is it?

Wed, 06 May 2026 01:54:08 +0000

**A statistician is comparing two datasets. If Dataset A has a mean of 50 and a standard deviation of 5, and Dataset B has a mean of 55 and a standard deviation of 7, which dataset has a higher coefficient of variation, and what is it?** At a time when precision matters across industries—from finance to healthcare—comparing how consistent variation behaves across datasets has unexpected relevance. This question veers into a core statistical concept: the coefficient of variation (CV), which measures relative spread, helping analysts evaluate stability and reliability beyond averages alone. When official questioners ask which dataset better reflects consistent performance—Data Set A or B—understanding CV unlocks clearer insight. ### What is Coefficient of Variation, and Why It Matters The coefficient of variation (CV) expresses standard deviation as a proportion of the mean, expressed as a percentage. It allows meaningful comparisons between datasets with different units or scales—twice as large but inherently more variable numbers mean less practical consistency. A higher CV indicates greater relative variation, signaling higher uncertainty relative to the average. For data scientists and analysts, this metric helps decide whether a mean value is trustworthy or skewed by outliers and noise.