---
tag: 0NHXGY2C5J
kind: concept
name: Sample variance
aliases: [unbiased-sample-variance, corrected-sample-variance]
msc: [62F10]
specializes: [0Q5CG2NEQ8]
sources:
  - url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bessel's_correction
    locator: Formulation
inventory: [1P8YH0RD6D]
---

## Summary

The sample variance of a sample measures the spread of its values around the sample mean. With the divisor $n - 1$, it is an unbiased estimator of the variance of the population.
The node [[sample variance|0JN9P4A944]] gives the precise definition.