The sum of deviations of the individual data elements from their mean is
A) always greater than zero.
B) always less than zero.
C) sometimes greater than and sometimes less than zero, depending on the data elements.
D) always equal to zero.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

By definition, the mean is the point around which the data is centered. Therefore, the sum of deviations from the mean is always equal to zero. This is because any positive deviation is canceled out by an equal negative deviation.

The Sum of Deviations of the Individual Data Elements from Their