What is the standard deviation of the given 12 recent sales?

To determine the standard deviation of the recent sales data accurately, you would typically follow the steps of calculating the mean of the sales, then determining the variance by finding the squared differences from the mean, and finally taking the square root of the variance to find the standard deviation.

If the selected answer is $6,456.15, this implies that after performing these calculations based on the sales data provided, you arrived at a value that correctly reflects the spread of the sales figures around the mean. Standard deviation is a measure that indicates how much individual sales vary from the average sale, and it is crucial for understanding the risk involved in sales performance.

The process involves ensuring the accuracy of each step—accurately computing the mean, squaring the deviations, summing them, dividing by the appropriate number (for a sample or population), and taking the square root. Finding that the answer is $6,456.15 suggests that the calculations reflecting the variability in the sales data were executed properly and this figure represents a standard deviation consistent with the characteristics of the data set in question. This allows for a reliable assessment of the sales performance and can be used in decision-making processes regarding sales strategies and forecasting.