Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
This problem relates the fundamental statistical measures: mean, standard deviation (or variance), and the sum of the squares of individual data points.
Step 2: Key Formula or Approach:
Use the computational formula for variance, which links all these quantities:
$\text{Variance } (\sigma^2) = \frac{\sum x_i^2}{N} - (\text{Mean } \mu)^2$
Where:
$\sigma$ = standard deviation
$\sum x_i^2$ = sum of squares of all items (this is what we need to find)
$N$ = total number of items
$\mu$ = mean of the items
Rearrange this formula to solve for $\sum x_i^2$.
Step 3: Detailed Explanation:
From the problem statement, we have the following values:
Total number of items, $N = 100$
Mean, $\mu = 50$
Standard deviation, $\sigma = 4$
First, calculate the variance, which is the square of the standard deviation:
$\text{Variance } (\sigma^2) = 4^2 = 16$
Now, substitute the known values into the variance formula:
\[ \sigma^2 = \frac{\sum x_i^2}{N} - \mu^2 \]
\[ 16 = \frac{\sum x_i^2}{100} - (50)^2 \]
Calculate the square of the mean:
\[ 16 = \frac{\sum x_i^2}{100} - 2500 \]
Now, solve for the unknown term $\frac{\sum x_i^2}{100}$:
Add 2500 to both sides:
\[ 16 + 2500 = \frac{\sum x_i^2}{100} \]
\[ 2516 = \frac{\sum x_i^2}{100} \]
Finally, to find the sum of all squares of the items ($\sum x_i^2$), multiply both sides by 100:
\[ \sum x_i^2 = 2516 \times 100 \]
\[ \sum x_i^2 = 251600 \]
Step 4: Final Answer:
The sum of all squares of the items is 251600.