In statistics, the absolute deviation of an element of a data set is the absolute difference between that element and a given point. Typically the point from which the deviation is measured is a measure of central tendency, most often the median or sometimes the mean of the data set.
where
- Di is the absolute deviation,
- xi is the data element
- and m(X) is the chosen measure of central tendency of the data set—sometimes the mean, but most often the median.
Read more about Absolute Deviation: Minimization, Estimation
Famous quotes containing the word absolute:
“Powerful, yes, that is the word that I constantly rolled on my tongue, I dreamed of absolute power, the kind that forces others to kneel, that forces the enemy to capitulate, finally converting him, and the more the enemy is blind, cruel, sure of himself, buried in his conviction, the more his admission proclaims the royalty of he who has brought on his defeat.”
—Albert Camus (1913–1960)