If two sample variances are not equal,the pooled variance will be closer to the larger of the two variances.

Question

If two sample variances are not equal,the pooled variance will be closer to the larger of the two variances.​

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The pooled variance in this case will be more heavily influenced by the larger sample size, but it is not necessarily closer to the larger variance. The formula for pooled variance takes into account both sample sizes and variances, so it is not accurate to simply say that it will be closer to the larger variance. In fact, if one sample size is much larger than the other, the pooled variance may be closer to the smaller variance.

If Two Sample Variances Are Not Equal,the Pooled Variance Will