In one data set, the mean is smaller than the median. What is the symmetry of the data?

Question

anonymous · Answer

The data is skewed to the left.

The data is symmetric.

It is not possible to determine the symmetry of the data.

The data is skewed to the right.

dan815 · Answer

data is skewed to the right

anonymous · Answer

can you explain why please?

dan815 · Answer

suppose there are your values
1  2   81 82 83 84 85 86 <--- median being the middle number is 83
However the mean due to the 1,2 will decrease the value as a whole
1+2+81+82...86
-------------- =584/8=73
 8

dan815 · Answer

give me a second to think though, if we can find a counter example where, even though the data is skewed to the right, and the mean is above the median. Then we will have to conclude it is not possible to determine the symmetry of the data.

dan815 · Answer

okay here I found a site that explaining it well

dan815 · Answer

http://www.mathsisfun.com/data/skewness.html

dan815 · Answer

sorry I misunderstood the meaning of "skew", it should be skewed to the left, when the values of data are more on the right side.. go figure

dan815 · Answer

So again, the answer was "Skewed to the left" not "right".