Question

Which measure of central tendency best describes this data set?
52, 58, 53, 57, 91

-Mean
-Median
-Mode
-Range

Answer 1

Let me answer with questions:

Which measure of central tendency is most influenced by an outlier?
Which measure of central tendency is least influenced by an outlier?
Does this data set have a mode?
What does "range" mean?

Answer 2

.Range in maths terms means, the difference between the highest and the lowest number.

Answer 3

I guess I should have added this into my question, but. One thing I don't know is what central tendency means. It didn't give me the definition or anything in my lesson.

Answer 4

another queston for Kirstenjla: What does "central tendency" mean? How about that...I mention it at the same time you mention it!

Answer 5

However, in this situation, the mean is widely preferred as the best measure of central tendency because it is the measure that includes all the values in the data set for its calculation

Answer 6

Well, what would you tell me if I were to ask you to describe your friends according to their heights. Would you give me the range? or the mean? or the average? Or the most common height? or ... ?? In other words, you'd be giving me a general idea of the height that describes most of your friends. That's one way to illustrate "central tendency."

Answer 7

Well, I do know that the outlier is the smallest or largest number in a data set. and the smallest and largest number in the set of numbers is 52 and 91.

Answer 8

Sorry, that was just what I was going to say before you said your last comment. But I will answer the one you just put. Hold on, just gotts read it. hehe

Answer 9

The smallest and/or the largest data point is not necessarily an outlier. There are specific numerical criteria to be used to determine whether any point is an outlier or not. I'll give you a hint: 91 is definitely an outlier in your data set.

Can you put that info to use in eliminating the least likely of the possible answer choices?

Answer 10

I guess so. well, it wouldn't be 58.

Answer 11

Why would you rule out 58 as the best indicator of "central tendency"?

Answer 12

Wait sorry, I totally messed up right there. Hold on.

Answer 13

It would not be the mode, because the mode is the most numbers in the data set, and there are only one of each number.

Answer 14

Absolutely right. So, eliminate "mode" from your four possible answer choices.

Answer 15

Okay. So now I have range, mean, and median. So, I don't think it would not be the median because the medien is the number in the middle of the data set, I don't need that. Right?

Answer 16

Now, answer as best you can: Would it be a good or a bad thing for an outlier to influence a measure of central tendency? Why?

Answer 17

I meant to say I don't think it's the medain. Sorry.

Answer 18

Answering that will partially answer your own question.

Answer 19

Um... it would be a bad thing. Because the central tendency is a central value or a typical value for a probability distribution. It is occasionally called an average or just the center of the distribution, and the outlier is the number that is unusually smaller or larger than the other data values.

Answer 20

You can't have one thing that isn't the same, influencing something different.

Answer 21

Am I right?

Answer 22

Wait, so if the the central tendency represents the center of a distribution of a data set, then it could be the median. The median could be the answer!!
central tendency: Center median: middle

Answer 23

Your paragraph, "Um... it would be a bad thing. Because the central tendency is a central value or a typical value for a probability distribution. It is occasionally called an average or just the center of the distribution, and the outlier is the number that is unusually smaller or larger than the other data values." is well written and makes sense. Regarding that "center of the distribution, we still need to choose which would be best for that: median, mean or range. Think about this once more and then make your final choice from those 3.

Answer 24

Which is more influenced by an outlier, the mean (which you have called the average) or the median?

Answer 25

The mean.

Answer 26

I think.

Answer 27

And that's not a good thing, right, the mean being influenced by an outlier?

Answer 28

no, it's not a good thing.

Answer 29

And therefore, what do we do with the "mean?"

Answer 30

cancel it out as well?

Answer 31

eliminate it as a choice. That leaves us with (1) range and (2) median. What does "median" mean?

Answer 32

I'm very sorry, but something serious just happened. I've got to go. thank you so so much for your help and time!!

Answer 33

Great working with you! Hope to do this again online. Bye!