npm package: @stdlib/stats-array-nanvariancetk
Description: Calculate the variance of an array ignoring `NaN` values and using a one-pass textbook algorithm.
Author: The Stdlib Authors
Latest version: 0.1.1

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# nanvariancetk

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> Calculate the [variance][variance] of an array ignoring `NaN` values and using a one-pass textbook algorithm.

<section class="intro">

The population [variance][variance] of a finite size population of size `N` is given by

<!-- <equation class="equation" label="eq:population_variance" align="center" raw="\sigma^2 = \frac{1}{N} \sum_{i=0}^{N-1} (x_i - \mu)^2" alt="Equation for the population variance."> -->

<div class="equation" align="center" data-raw-text="\sigma^2 = \frac{1}{N} \sum_{i=0}^{N-1} (x_i - \mu)^2" data-equation="eq:population_variance">
    <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/gh/stdlib-js/stdlib@0749b7b31875c183f47939662b8fb607bd381d06/lib/node_modules/@stdlib/stats/strided/nanvariancetk/docs/img/equation_population_variance.svg" alt="Equation for the population variance.">
    <br>
</div> -->

<!-- </equation> -->

where the population mean is given by

<!-- <equation class="equation" label="eq:population_mean" align="center" raw="\mu = \frac{1}{N} \sum_{i=0}^{N-1} x_i" alt="Equation for the population mean."> -->

<!-- <div class="equation" align="center" data-raw-text="\mu = \frac{1}{N} \sum_{i=0}^{N-1} x_i" data-equation="eq:population_mean">
    <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/gh/stdlib-js/stdlib@0749b7b31875c183f47939662b8fb607bd381d06/lib/node_modules/@stdlib/stats/strided/nanvariancetk/docs/img/equation_population_mean.svg" alt="Equation for the population mean.">
    <br>
</div> -->

<!-- </equation> -->

Often in the analysis of data, the true population [variance][variance] is not known _a priori_ and must be estimated from a sample drawn from the population distribution. If one attempts to use the formula for the population [variance][variance], the result is biased and yields a **biased sample variance**. To compute an **unbiased sample variance** for a sample of size `n`,

<!-- <equation class="equation" label="eq:unbiased_sample_variance" align="center" raw="s^2 = \frac{1}{n-1} \sum_{i=0}^{n-1} (x_i - \bar{x})^2" alt="Equation for computing an unbiased sample variance."> -->

<!-- <div class="equation" align="center" data-raw-text="s^2 = \frac{1}{n-1} \sum_{i=0}^{n-1} (x_i - \bar{x})^2" data-equation="eq:unbiased_sample_variance">
    <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/gh/stdlib-js/stdlib@0749b7b31875c183f47939662b8fb607bd381d06/lib/node_modules/@stdlib/stats/strided/nanvariancetk/docs/img/equation_unbiased_sample_variance.svg" alt="Equation for computing an unbiased sample variance.">
    <br>
</div> -->

<!-- </equation> -->

where the sample mean is given by

<!-- <equation class="equation" label="eq:sample_mean" align="center" raw="\bar{x} = \frac{1}{n} \sum_{i=0}^{n-1} x_i" alt="Equation for the sample mean."> -->

<!-- <div class="equation" align="center" data-raw-text="\bar{x} = \frac{1}{n} \sum_{i=0}^{n-1} x_i" data-equation="eq:sample_mean">
    <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/gh/stdlib-js/stdlib@0749b7b31875c183f47939662b8fb607bd381d06/lib/node_modules/@stdlib/stats/strided/nanvariancetk/docs/img/equation_sample_mean.svg" alt="Equation for the sample mean.">
    <br>
</div>

<!-- </equation> -->

The use of the term `n-1` is commonly referred to as Bessel's correction. Note, however, that applying Bessel's correction can increase the mean squared error between the sample variance and population variance. Depending on the characteristics of the population distribution, other correction factors (e.g., `n-1.5`, `n+1`, etc) can yield better estimators.

</section>

<!-- /.intro -->

<section class="installation">

## Installation

```bash
npm install @stdlib/stats-array-nanvariancetk
```

</section>

<section class="usage">

## Usage

```javascript
var nanvariancetk = require( '@stdlib/stats-array-nanvariancetk' );
```

#### nanvariancetk( x\[, correction] )

Computes the variance of an array ignoring `NaN` values and using a one-pass textbook algorithm.

```javascript
var x = [ 1.0, -2.0, NaN, 2.0 ];

var v = nanvariancetk( x );
// returns ~4.3333
```

The function has the following parameters:

-   **x**: input array.
-   **correction**: degrees of freedom adjustment. Setting this parameter to a value other than `0` has the effect of adjusting the divisor during the calculation of the [variance][variance] according to `N-c` where  `N` corresponds to the number of non-`NaN` array elements and `c` corresponds to the provided degrees of freedom adjustment. When computing the [variance][variance] of a population, setting this parameter to `0` is the standard choice (i.e., the provided array contains data constituting an entire population). When computing the unbiased sample [variance][variance], setting this parameter to `1` is the standard choice (i.e., the provided array contains data sampled from a larger population; this is commonly referred to as Bessel's correction). Default: `1.0`.

By default, the function computes the sample [variance][variance]. To adjust the degrees of freedom when computing the [variance][variance], provide a `correction` argument.

```javascript
var x = [ 1.0, -2.0, NaN, 2.0 ];

var v = nanvariancetk( x, 0.0 );
// returns ~2.8889
```

</section>

<!-- /.usage -->

<section class="notes">

## Notes

-   If provided an empty array, the function returns `NaN`.
-   If `N - c` is less than or equal to `0` (where `c` corresponds to the provided degrees of freedom adjustment and `N` corresponds to the number of non-`NaN` array elements), the function returns `NaN`.
-   The function supports array-like objects having getter and setter accessors for array element access (e.g., [`@stdlib/array-base/accessor`][@stdlib/array/base/accessor]).
-   Some caution should be exercised when using the one-pass textbook algorithm. Literature overwhelmingly discourages the algorithm's use for two reasons: 1) the lack of safeguards against underflow and overflow and 2) the risk of catastrophic cancellation when subtracting the two sums if the sums are large and the variance small. These concerns have merit; however, the one-pass textbook algorithm should not be dismissed outright. For data distributions with a moderately large standard deviation to mean ratio (i.e., **coefficient of variation**), the one-pass textbook algorithm may be acceptable, especially when performance is paramount and some precision loss is acceptable (including a risk of returning a negative variance due to floating-point rounding errors!). In short, no single "best" algorithm for computing the variance exists. The "best" algorithm depends on the underlying data distribution, your performance requirements, and your minimum precision requirements. When evaluating which algorithm to use, consider the relative pros and cons, and choose the algorithm which best serves your needs.

</section>

<!-- /.notes -->

<section class="examples">

## Examples

<!-- eslint no-undef: "error" -->

```javascript
var uniform = require( '@stdlib/random-base-uniform' );
var filledarrayBy = require( '@stdlib/array-filled-by' );
var bernoulli = require( '@stdlib/random-base-bernoulli' );
var nanvariancetk = require( '@stdlib/stats-array-nanvariancetk' );

function rand() {
    if ( bernoulli( 0.8 ) < 1 ) {
        return NaN;
    }
    return uniform( -50.0, 50.0 );
}

var x = filledarrayBy( 10, 'generic', rand );
console.log( x );

var v = nanvariancetk( x );
console.log( v );
```

</section>

<!-- /.examples -->

* * *

<section class="references">

## References

-   Ling, Robert F. 1974. "Comparison of Several Algorithms for Computing Sample Means and Variances." _Journal of the American Statistical Association_ 69 (348). American Statistical Association, Taylor & Francis, Ltd.: 859–66. doi:[10.2307/2286154][@ling:1974a].

</section>

<!-- /.references -->

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* * *

## Notice

This package is part of [stdlib][stdlib], a standard library for JavaScript and Node.js, with an emphasis on numerical and scientific computing. The library provides a collection of robust, high performance libraries for mathematics, statistics, streams, utilities, and more.

For more information on the project, filing bug reports and feature requests, and guidance on how to develop [stdlib][stdlib], see the main project [repository][stdlib].

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---

## License

See [LICENSE][stdlib-license].


## Copyright

Copyright &copy; 2016-2026. The Stdlib [Authors][stdlib-authors].

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