According to the data, what percentage falls within two standard deviations of the mean?

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Multiple Choice

According to the data, what percentage falls within two standard deviations of the mean?

The empirical rule for a normal distribution says that about 95% of data lie within two standard deviations of the mean, meaning within the range mean ± 2×SD. This is the window that includes the vast majority of observations when the data are approximately normally distributed, which is why the correct percentage is 95%. The other options correspond to one standard deviation (about 68%), three standard deviations (about 99.7%), and a 50% central portion, which don’t apply to the two‑standard‑deviation window.

The empirical rule for a normal distribution says that about 95% of data lie within two standard deviations of the mean, meaning within the range mean ± 2×SD. This is the window that includes the vast majority of observations when the data are approximately normally distributed, which is why the correct percentage is 95%. The other options correspond to one standard deviation (about 68%), three standard deviations (about 99.7%), and a 50% central portion, which don’t apply to the two‑standard‑deviation window.

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