is that it is not bounded from above, so it cannot be normalized to be within a fixed range (e.g. like the Gini coefficient which is constrained to be between 0 and 1). It is, however, more mathematically tractable than the Gini coefficient. As a measure of standardisation of archaeological artefacts Archaeologists often use CV values to compare the degree of standardisation of ancient artefacts. Variation in CVs has been interpreted to indicate different cultural transmission contexts for the adoption of new technologies. Coefficients of variation have also been used to investigate pottery standardisation relating to changes in social organisation. Archaeologists also use several methods for comparing CV values, for example the modified signed-likelihood ratio (MSLR) test for equality of CVs. Examples of misuse Comparing coefficients of variation between parameters using relative units can result in differences that may not be real. If we compare the same set of temperatures in Celsius and Fahrenheit (both relative units, where kelvin and Rankine scale are their associated absolute values): Celsius: [0, 10, 20, 30, 40] Fahrenheit: [32, 50, 68, 86, 104] The sample standard deviations are 15.81 and 28.46, respectively. The CV of the first set is 15.81/20 = 79%. For the second set (which are the same temperatures) it is 28.46/68 = 42%. If, for example, the data sets are temperature readings from two different sensors (a Celsius sensor and a Fahrenheit sensor) and you want to know which sensor is better by picking the one with the least variance, then you will be misled if you use CV. The problem here is that you have divided by a relative value rather than an absolute. Comparing the same data set, now in absolute units: Kelvin: [273.15, 283.15, 293.15, 303.15, 313.15] Rankine: [491.67, 509.67, 527.67, 545.67, 563.67] The sample standard deviations are still 15.81 and 28.46, respectively, because the standard deviation is not affected by a constant offset. The coefficients of variation, however, are now both equal to 5.39%. Mathematically speaking, the coefficient of variation is not entirely linear. That is, for a random variable , the coefficient of variation of is equal to the coefficient of variation of only when . In the above example, Celsius can only be converted to Fahrenheit through a linear transformation of the form with , whereas Kelvins can be converted to Rankines through a transformation of the form . Distribution Provided that negative and small