das Sigma
sigma
The 18th letter of the Greek alphabet, written in uppercase or lowercase as Σ or σ.
EXAMPLE
Das Sigma steht im griechischen Alphabet an achtzehnter Stelle.
Sigma is the eighteenth letter of the Greek alphabet.
das Sigma
sigma
das Sigma, die Sigmas
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Meanings
das Sigma
sigma
A mathematical symbol, usually Σ, that denotes the summation of several values or terms.
EXAMPLE
In dieser Formel steht das Sigma für die Summe aller Einzelwerte.
In this formula, sigma stands for the sum of all the individual values.
das Sigma
sigma
In statistics, the symbol σ for the standard deviation of a distribution or series of measurements.
EXAMPLE
Das Sigma gibt in dieser statistischen Auswertung die Standardabweichung an.
In this statistical analysis, sigma indicates the standard deviation.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry Sigma, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
At a glance
| gender | neuter das |
|---|---|
| plural | die Sigmas |
| genitive | des Sigma |
The four cases
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | das Sigma | die Sigmas |
| accusative | das Sigma | die Sigmas |
| dative | dem Sigma | den Sigmas |
| genitive | des Sigma des Sigmas | der Sigmas |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
Usage tips
Context clue
The meaning of „Sigma“ (sigma) is usually clear from the context: In connection with Greek letters, it refers to the alphabet; in a formula with several terms, it refers to summation; and in statistical data, it refers to the standard deviation.
EXAMPLE
Das Sigma steht im Alphabet nach dem Rho.
Sigma comes after rho in the alphabet.
In der Formel zeigt das Sigma die Addition aller Werte an.
In the formula, sigma indicates the addition of all the values.
Das Sigma wurde aus den Messdaten berechnet.
Sigma was calculated from the measurement data.
Summation symbol
In mathematical formulas, the uppercase sigma Σ often appears with a lower and an upper limit. The variable shown below it is assigned values from the lower limit to the upper limit, and the resulting values are added together.
EXAMPLE
Das Sigma mit den Grenzen eins und zehn summiert die Werte von eins bis zehn.
The sigma with the limits one and ten sums the values from one to ten.
Statistical notation
In statistics, the standard deviation is often denoted by the lowercase sigma σ. Numbers or wording related to spread, distribution, and measurements point to this meaning.
EXAMPLE
Ein kleines Sigma in der statistischen Formel bezeichnet die Streuung der Messwerte.
A lowercase sigma in the statistical formula denotes the spread of the measurements.
In real life
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