topic proc standard : mean in SAS Programming

proc standard : mean

SASdevAnneMarie — Fri, 06 Mar 2026 20:39:10 GMT

Hello Experts,

I'm wondering why the mean is not equal to 0 ?

My code is :

proc standard data=sashelp.cars mean=0 std=1 out=bdd;
var _numeric_;
run;

proc means data=bdd;
	var _numeric_;
run;

Thank you for your help !

Re: proc standard : mean

PaigeMiller — Fri, 06 Mar 2026 21:34:43 GMT

This is roundoff error. It happens when digital computers do math on numbers that are not integers and not 2 to the power of any negative integer. For any real-world purpose, you can treat these as exactly zero.

If you look in data set BDD, you can see for example, that cylinders (which is an integer in SASDATA.CARS) is not an integer and not 2 to the power of any negative integer.

Re: proc standard : mean

Tom — Sat, 07 Mar 2026 03:58:42 GMT

If you want PROC MEANS to only display a fixed number of decimal places use the MAXDEC= option.

proc standard data=sashelp.cars mean=0 std=1 out=bdd;
run;

proc means maxdec=4;
run;

Re: proc standard : mean

SASdevAnneMarie — Sat, 07 Mar 2026 07:49:47 GMT

Thank you, Tom!
Is there an option to hide the minus sign?

Re: proc standard : mean

PaigeMiller — Sat, 07 Mar 2026 10:31:05 GMT

Why does removing the minus sign make the slightest bit of difference? Why would you do that? What is the benefit?