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Maths · Grade 6 · Set B
Mean, Median or Neither?
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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.
  1. 1mean
  2. 2median
  3. 3range
  4. 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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Answer key · Set B
Mean, Median or Neither?
1False The dot at 24 is far from the rest and pulls the mean up to 6. Most dots sit at 5 or less.
2The mean is lower The median is 7. The far dot at 1 pulls the mean down to about 6.6.
3One far dot pulls it The mean uses every dot, so the dot at 24 drags it up to 6.5. The median is 4.
4True The dots are balanced. The mean is 7 and the median is 7.
54.5 The 5th dot is 4 and the 6th dot is 5. Halfway between 4 and 5 is 4.5.
6Team B Team B has one dot far from the rest. It pulls the mean up to about 6.9, but the median stays at 5.
7The IQR The range counts the far dot, so it is 22. The IQR, 2, describes the middle half.
85 3 + 4 + 4 + 5 + 5 + 6 + 6 + 7 = 40, and 40 ÷ 8 = 5.
9C C is balanced. A and B each have a dot far from the rest that would pull the mean.
101-A, 2-D, 3-B, 4-C The mean balances the dots, the median is the middle one, the range is biggest minus smallest, and the IQR is the spread of the middle half.
113 2 + 3 + 3 + 4 = 12, and 12 ÷ 4 = 3. With the far dot the mean was 6, so one dot moved it a lot.
12The median, 3 Four of the five dots are 4 or less. The median, 3, sits with them. The mean, 6, is above all four.
13Your own words: a grown-up reads it.
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