Question

a mini - golf course is determining the par score for each of its holes. the dot plot shows the number of strokes required to place a ball in the ninth hole for a sample of 31 players.
ninth hole strokes
(the dot plot is shown with the x - axis labeled number of strokes from 1 to 9 and dots representing the number of players for each stroke count)
which measure of center is best to use to determine the expected number of strokes required for the ninth hole?

• the mean is the best choice because the data is nearly symmetrical.
• the median is the best choice because data is clustered.
• the mean is the best choice because the data is skewed to the right.
• the median is the best choice because the data is skewed to the left.

Explanation:

To determine the best measure of center, we analyze the dot - plot's symmetry. A nearly symmetrical data set is best summarized by the mean, as the mean is affected by outliers less when data is symmetrical (or nearly so). The dot - plot here appears nearly symmetrical (the distribution of dots on either side of the center is relatively balanced).

• Option 2: Saying the median is best because data is clustered is incorrect. Clustered data doesn't necessarily mean median is better, and the data here is nearly symmetrical, not just clustered.
• Option 3: The data is not skewed to the right. A right - skewed data has a long tail on the right, which is not the case here.
• Option 4: The data is not skewed to the left. A left - skewed data has a long tail on the left, which is not the case here.

So, the mean is the best choice because the data is nearly symmetrical.

Answer:

The mean is the best choice because the data is nearly symmetrical. (Corresponding to the first option: The mean is the best choice because the data is nearly symmetrical.)