Question

answer the questions below.
(a) the 9 members of the swim team completed the following numbers of laps at todays practice:
21, 77, 78, 79, 80, 86, 88, 89, 90.
which measure should be used to summarize the data?
mean median mode
(b) a car dealer has used cars for sale for the following amounts:
$3400, $3500, $3600, $3700, $3900, $4000, $4300, $4400, $4500.
which measure should be used to summarize the data?
mean median mode
(c) as part of the u.s. census, the number of children is reported for each family in the u.s.
which measure gives the most common number of children for a u.s. family?
mean median mode

Explanation:

• (a) The data set has an outlier (21). The median is less affected by outliers than the mean. The mode is not appropriate as there are no repeated values.
• (b) The data is relatively evenly distributed without extreme outliers. The mean can be used to summarize the central tendency.
• (c) The mode represents the most frequently occurring value. So, it gives the most common number of children.

Answer:

a. Median
b. Mean
c. Mode