The value of the sum of the squared deviations from the mean, i.e., must always be
A)less than the mean
B)negative
C)either positive or negative depending on whether the mean is negative or positive
D)at least zero

Question

The value of the sum of the squared deviations from the mean, i.e.,  must always be
A)less than the mean 
B)negative 
C)either positive or negative depending on whether the mean is negative or positive 
D)at least zero

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The sum of the squared deviations from the mean is always non-negative. It can be zero in the case where all the data points are equal to the mean, but it cannot be negative. Therefore, the correct choice is D.

The Value of the Sum of the Squared Deviations from the Mean