What is this formula measuring error?

In summary, the formula discussed in this conversation is used to measure the error or deviation between an expected or predicted value and an actual value. It differs from other error measurement formulas by taking into account both positive and negative errors, allowing for a more comprehensive measure of overall error. Each element of the formula represents a different aspect, such as the actual value and expected value. This formula can be used for all types of data and the results can be interpreted as a percentage, with a lower percentage indicating a smaller error and a higher percentage indicating a larger error. This can be useful in evaluating the accuracy of predictions or the quality of a process.
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crashcat
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TL;DR Summary
I came across this formula that measures the distribution of measurements, but it makes no sense to me and I hope someone can explain it to me.
Variance and standard deviation and other measures of error I understand. This formula doesn't behave well for data sets centered around zero and also has other problems, like scaling differently as N increases than the standard deviation or standard error. Does anyone recognize this and can point me to a description or derivation? $$\frac{1}{\bar{x}}\sqrt{\frac{n\sum{x^2}-(\sum{x})^2}{n(n-1)}}$$
 
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FAQ: What is this formula measuring error?

What is the purpose of this formula?

The purpose of this formula is to measure the error or deviation between the actual value and the predicted value in a given dataset. It is used to evaluate the accuracy of a model or calculation.

How is error measured in this formula?

Error is measured by taking the difference between the actual value and the predicted value, and then applying a specific mathematical function to this difference. This function can vary depending on the type of error being measured.

Can this formula be used for any type of data?

Yes, this formula can be used for any type of data as long as there is a predicted value and an actual value to compare it to. It is commonly used in fields such as statistics, machine learning, and engineering.

What does a high error value indicate?

A high error value indicates that there is a large difference between the predicted value and the actual value. This can suggest that the model or calculation being used is not accurately predicting the data.

How is this formula different from other error measurement methods?

This formula is different from other error measurement methods in that it uses a specific mathematical function to quantify the difference between the predicted and actual values. Other methods may use different approaches, such as calculating the percentage of error or using a different mathematical function.

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