What is the formula for calculating the mean of a sample?

The formula for calculating the mean of a sample is represented as ( \bar{x} = \frac{1}{n} \sum (x_i) ). In this context, ( \bar{x} ) denotes the sample mean, ( n ) is the number of observations in the sample, and ( \sum (x_i) ) symbolizes the summation of all the individual values in the sample.

This formula is essential as it allows you to find the average value of your sample data, which is a key measure of central tendency in statistics. By dividing the total sum of the sample values by the number of observations, you obtain a measure that represents the center of your data set.

Other options provided do not refer to the sample mean. Instead, they relate to different concepts: the second option calculates the population mean, the third option is indicative of finding the standard deviation from a variance, and the fourth option discusses the calculation of variance with respect to the population mean. Understanding the distinction between these formulas is crucial in applying the correct method for your statistical analysis.