In statistics, which symbol is commonly used to represent the standard error of the sample mean $m$?

• A. $\mu$
• B. $m$
• C. $s_m$
• D. $\sigma$

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that the standard error of the sample mean is a measure of how much the sample mean (\( m \)) is expected to vary from the true population mean (\( \mu \)).
2. Recall that the standard error of the sample mean is typically denoted by a symbol that indicates it is related to the sample standard deviation but specifically for the mean.
3. Recognize that \( \mu \) represents the population mean, not the standard error.
4. Know that \( m \) usually denotes the sample mean itself, not its standard error.
5. Identify that the symbol \( s_m \) (where \( s \) is the sample standard deviation and the subscript \( m \) indicates the mean) is commonly used to represent the standard error of the sample mean.