Range and Measures of Central Tendency Range and measures of central tendency (mean, median and mode) are values that summarize a set of data. They are useful when analyzing data.

Daily High Temperatures (for any given date) Over the Last Decade To find the range of the daily high temperatures, subtract the least value from the greatest value. 59° - 13° = 46° Range - the difference between the greatest and the least values in a data set

To find the mean, find the sum of the data =465 and divide it by the number of data. 465÷10=46.5 The mean for daily high temperature over the last decade is 46.5°, or approximately 47°. Daily High Temperatures (for any given date) Over the Last Decade Mean - (or average) the sum of a set of data divided by the number of data

To find the median, place all the data in numerical order, then find the middle number. If there are two middle numbers, find the mean (or average) of the two middle numbers =99 99÷2=49.5 Daily High Temperatures (for any given date) Over the Last Decade Median - the middle value of a data set

To find the mode, find the most common value. It helps to place data in numerical order to find the mode If there is not a value which appears more often than another, then there is no mode. Daily High Temperatures (for any given date) Over the Last Decade Mode - the most common value in a data set

Sometimes there are extreme values that are separated from the rest of the data. These extreme values are called outliers. Outliers affect the mean. Outliers Daily High Temperatures (for any given date) Over the Last Decade The daily high temperature in 1996 is the outlier. Mean = ÷10=46.5

Because outliers can affect the mean, the median may be better measures of central tendency. You might consider the median to best represent the expected temperature. Median =99 99÷2=49.5

Sometimes the mode is more helpful when analyzing data. If you were trying to determine what clothes to wear for a day trip, you might base your decision on the mode temperature because the mode temperature is the temperature which occurred most often. 13° 40° 46° 47° 49° 50° 50° 53° 58° 59°

Dropping the outlier may help when determining the mean = ÷10=46.5° = ÷9=50.2° When the 13° outlier is dropped, the average daily temperature increases by more than 4° to 50.2°, which is closer to both the median of 49.5° and the mode of 50°.

You Try It! Jessica’s test scores in Algebra for the first semester are 93, 79, 88, 77, 92, 88, 80, 34, 84, 88. Calculate the range, mean, median, and mode. Then make and explain a prediction for next semester’s test scores. Range: 59 Predictions will vary: Jessica will score an estimated average of 85 on her tests. I determined this by removing the outlying score of 34 and recalculated the mean. Mean: 80.3 Median: 86 Mode: 88

Presentation developed by W. D. Martin © Rev