Question

a) which average should be used to summarise this data?
b) write a sentence to explain why you have chosen this average.
c) work out this average for the data below.

mint chocolate strawberry
strawberry mint
vanilla mint

Explanation:

Identify the data type

The given data set consists of ice cream flavors: Mint, Chocolate, Strawberry, Strawberry, Mint, Vanilla, and Mint. Since these values are descriptive categories rather than numerical values, this is qualitative (categorical) data.

Determine the appropriate average

Using the Modal Value concept, we evaluate which measure of central tendency (mean, median, or mode) can be applied to qualitative data. The mean and median require numerical values to calculate sums or order data. Therefore, the mode is the only average that can be used for categorical data.

Justify the choice of average

The mode is chosen because the data is qualitative (non-numerical), and you cannot add or rank categories to calculate a mean or median. The mode simply identifies the most common category.

Calculate the average for the data

We count the frequency of each flavor in the given data set:

• Mint: 3
• Strawberry: 2
• Chocolate: 1
• Vanilla: 1

The flavor with the highest frequency is Mint. Thus, the Modal Value is Mint.

Answer:

Question a

The mode (or modal value).

Question b

The mode is the only average that can be used because the data is qualitative (non-numerical).

Question c

Mint