A set of data has a high-value outlier. How do you expect the standard deviation to change when the outlier is removed? Would the result be different if the data had a low-value outlier instead? Explain.

Answer:

The standard deviation will decrease when the outlier is removed. Standard deviation represents the spread of data from the mean. Removing a high-value outlier decreases the spread of data from the mean. Removing a low-value outlier also decreases the spread of data from the mean. In both cases, the standard deviation decreases.