
What is the standard variance formula?
Variance is given by the formula σ 2 = ∑ (x – M) 2/n; The standard deviation is a metric that expresses how dispersed the observations in a dataset are. Standard Deviation is given by the formula σ = √∑ (x – M) 2/n; The spread of data from its mean point is measured by both variance and standard deviation.
What are examples of variance?
Example: if our 5 dogs are just a sample of a bigger population of dogs, we divide by 4 instead of 5 like this: Sample Variance = 108,520 / 4 = 27,130. Sample Standard Deviation = √27,130 = 165 (to the nearest mm) Think of it as a "correction" when your data is only a sample.
What does it mean to explain variance?
Variance: the fact or quality of being different, divergent, or inconsistent. In probability theory and statistics, variance is the expectation of the squared deviation of a random variable from its mean, and it informally measures how far a set of (random) numbers are spread out from their mean.
What is the computational formula for variance?
What is the computational formula for variance? For a population, the variance is calculated as σ² = ( Σ (x-μ)² ) / N. Another equivalent formula is σ² = ( (Σ x²) / N ) – μ². If we need to calculate variance by hand, this alternate formula is easier to work with.

How do you explain revenue variance?
The revenue variance for an accounting period is the difference between budgeted and actual revenue. A favorable revenue variance occurs when actual revenues exceed budgeted revenues, while the opposite is true for an unfavorable variance.
Which of the following is revenue variance?
What are Revenue Variances? Revenue variances are used to measure the difference between expected and actual sales. This information is needed to determine the success of an organization's selling activities and the perceived attractiveness of its products.
What is an activity variance and what does it mean what is a revenue variance and what does it mean what is a spending variance and what does it mean?
An activity variance is the difference between a revenue or cost item in the flexible budget and the same item in the static planning budget. An activity variance is due solely to the difference in the actual level of activity used in the flexible budget and the level of activity assumed in the planning budget.
What is a spending variance and what does it mean?
A spending variance is the difference between the actual amount of a particular expense and the expected (or budgeted) amount of an expense.
What are the 3 main sales variances?
To calculate sales variance, you need the following values: The actual sale price of your product (per unit) The standard sale price of your product (how much you budgeted to sell your product for per unit) The number of units sold.
What are some possible causes of variances?
There are four common reasons why actual expenditure or income will show a variance against the budget.The cost is more (or less) than budgeted. Budgets are prepared in advance and can only ever estimate income and expenditure. ... Planned activity did not occur when expected. ... Change in planned activity. ... Error/Omission.
What does an activity variance mean?
Activity variances are the differences between the static/planning budget and the flexible budget and are caused by the difference between planned and actual activity levels.
How do you know if a variance is favorable or unfavorable?
If revenues were higher than expected, or expenses were lower, the variance is favorable. If revenues were lower than budgeted or expenses were higher, the variance is unfavorable.
What are variances in accounting?
A variance in accounting is the difference between a forecasted amount and the actual amount. Variances are common in budgeting, but you can have a variance in anything that you forecast. Basically, whenever you predict something, you're bound to have either a favorable or unfavorable variance.
How is expense variance calculated?
To calculate budget variances, simply subtract the actual amount spent from the budgeted amount for each line item.
How do I calculate price variance?
Price variance is calculated by the following formula: Vmp = (Actual unit cost - Standard unit cost) * Actual Quantity Purchased. or. Vmp = (Actual Quantity Purchased * Actual Unit Cost) - (Actual Quantity Purchased * Standard Unit Cost).
Why is overhead variance important?
Variable overhead spending variance assists in forecasting the amount of labor and the wage rate required for future needs. It also helps in efficient use of resources due to better planning. The variable overheads can be reduced to the minimum after identifying the reasons behind a variable overhead spending variance.
What is variance in statistics?
Unlike range and interquartile range, variance is a measure of dispersion that takes into account the spread of all data points in a data set. It's the measure of dispersion the most often used, along with the standard deviation, which is simply the square root of the variance.
How do you calculate revenue and spending variance?
There are many variations for calculating spending variance for different types of expenses, but the basic formula for this calculation is:Actual cost - expected cost = spending variance.(Actual variable overhead rate - expected variable overhead rate) x hours worked = variable overhead spending variance.More items...•
What is revenue variance?
Revenue variances are used to measure the difference between expected and actual sales. This information is needed to determine the success of an organization's selling activities and the perceived attractiveness of its products. There are three types of revenue variances, which are noted next.
What is variance in accounting?
This is the difference between the actual and expected number of units sold, multiplied by the budgeted price per unit. The intent of this variance is to isolate changes in the number of units sold.
What is the term for a new product that generates sales at the expense of an older product?
Cannibalization. A new product generates sales at the expense of an older product.
Can price increase reduce number of units sold?
A price increase could dramatically reduce the number of units sold, while a price reduction may have the reverse effect. All three of these variances can be used to develop insights into the reasons why actual sales differ from expectations.

Example
- Data from XYZ Company with equal Actual CM and Budgeted CM. To determine the relevant variances, we use the column method shown above. First, organize a table that outlines all relevant information regarding the two products. Standard Ticket: SVV = 22,000 U + 8,000 F = 14…
Analysis
- From the above example, management can draw several conclusions: 1. For the standard ticket, the actual sales mix is lower than originally budgeted, leading to an unfavorable sales mixvariance. 2. For the standard ticket, the actual sales volume is higher than originally estimated, leading to a favorable sales quantity variance. 3. The sales volume variance, therefore, is unfavo…
Market Share and Market Size Variances
- Just like the variance analysis shown above, companies can also take their analysis one step further to determine market share and market size variances. Market share variance is the difference between actual market share and the estimated/standard market share at the same volume of sales. On the other hand, market size variance is the difference between actual indust…
Importance of Variance Analysis
- Variance analysis, as a whole, is imperative for companies because it gives management information that may not necessarily be obvious. By actually examining all individual costs, sales information, and contribution margin figures, companies can better measure the effectiveness of production methods and the performance of specific products relative to others. For example, e…
Additional Resources
- Thank you for reading CFI’s guide to Revenue Variance Analysis. To help you advance your career, check out the additional CFI resources below: 1. Sales Revenue 2. Analysis of Financial Statements 3. Revenue Recognition Principle 4. Projecting Balance Sheet Items