Question

two histograms showing the number of pets owned by boys and girls in a science class are made. students will compare the data. which measure of variability should be used to describe the data?

• mean
• median
• standard deviation
• interquartile range

Explanation:

To determine the measure of variability for two histograms (boys' and girls' pets) that are much skewed left, we analyze each option:

• Mean: A measure of central tendency, not variability. Eliminate.
• Median: Also a measure of central tendency, not variability. Eliminate.
• Standard Deviation: Sensitive to skewness and outliers, less appropriate for skewed data. Eliminate.
• Interquartile Range (IQR): Resistant to skewness and outliers, ideal for describing variability in skewed distributions.

Answer:

D. Interquartile range