Describing

Distributions with
Numbers:
Measuring Center
Chap. 1 Sec. 2a
 Measuring Center
 Mean  Median
 “average value”  “middle
value”

x
 x  Symbol is M

n  Graphing Calculator
 means to add  STEPS:
 Rounding Rule for the
1. Press STAT
Mean: Should be
rounded to one more 2. Enter data into list
decimal place than 3. Press
occurs in the data STAT>CALC>Enter
4. Input 1-var stats L1
How would you want your grade
determined?
 Test Scores:
 85, 86, 82, 93, 32, 58, 89, 82, 91, 98
 Mean or Median?
 Why?
Mean VS Median
 The mean is sensitive to the influence of a few
extreme observations (outliers)
 The median is a resistant measure (does not
respond to strong changes in a few
observations)
 In a symmetric distribution the Mean & Median
are close
 In a skewed distribution, the Mean is pulled in
the direction of the skew
Pg. 74 1.27-1.31
odd
Homework Assignment