Remember: Look at the dots first. A far dot pulls the mean, so use the median. Balanced dots let you use the mean.
Mean or median?
1
The mean is a good measure of the typical value here.
TrueFalse
2
Compare the mean of this data with its median.
The mean is lowerAbout the sameThe mean is higher
3
Why is the mean a poor choice for a typical value here?
There are too many dotsOne far dot pulls itThe mean is never a good pick
4
The mean and the median are about the same here.
TrueFalse
5
What is the median of this data? There are 10 dots, so find the number halfway between the middle two. Answer:
Spread and balance
6
The top plot is Team A and the bottom plot is Team B. Which team should use the median?
Team ATeam B
7
Which number shows the spread of the typical kids in this data?
The rangeThe IQR
8
This data is balanced, so the mean is a good pick. What is the mean? Answer:
9
The three dot plots are A on top, B in the middle and C at the bottom. Which one is a good place to use the mean?
ABC
10
Join each number to what it tells.
1mean
2median
3range
4IQR
Athe balance point of the dots
Bthe biggest minus the smallest
Cthe spread of the middle half
Dthe middle dot
Stretch
11
The data is 2, 3, 3, 4 and 18. Take away the far dot. What is the mean of the four dots left? Answer:
12
The data is 2, 3, 3, 4 and 18. The mean is 6 and the median is 3. Which tells the story of a typical value better?
The median, 3The mean, 6
13
Write how you know when to use the median instead of the mean.
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