Math Problem Statement

Given the following frequency table of values, is the mean, median, or mode likely to be the best measure of the center for the data set?

Value Frequency 20

1

21

0

22

0

23

0

24

0

25

0

26

0

27

0

28

0

29

0

30

0

31

0

32

0

33

3

34

4

35

3

36

3

37

1

Select the correct answer below:

Mode

Mean Median

Solution

Based on the given frequency table, let's analyze the data for each measure of central tendency (mean, median, and mode):

Data Set:

  • 20 occurs 1 time.
  • 33 occurs 3 times.
  • 34 occurs 4 times.
  • 35 occurs 3 times.
  • 36 occurs 3 times.
  • 37 occurs 1 time.

Mode:

The mode is the value that occurs the most frequently in the data set. From the frequency table, we see that 34 occurs the most (4 times). So, the mode is 34.

Median:

The median is the middle value when the data is arranged in order. If we list all the values:

  • 20, 33, 33, 33, 34, 34, 34, 34, 35, 35, 35, 36, 36, 36, 37

There are 15 data points, so the median will be the 8th value. The 8th value in the ordered list is 34.

Mean:

To calculate the mean, we sum all the values and divide by the total number of data points.

Sum = (1 × 20) + (3 × 33) + (4 × 34) + (3 × 35) + (3 × 36) + (1 × 37)
= 20 + 99 + 136 + 105 + 108 + 37 = 505

The total number of data points is 15.

Mean = 50515=33.67\frac{505}{15} = 33.67 (approximately).

Conclusion:

All three measures (mode, median, and mean) point to a value of 34 as the central tendency of the data set, with the mode and median both being 34. While the mean is close, mode and median are likely better measures of central tendency in this case because the data has a high concentration around 34.

Thus, the best measure of the center for this data set is Mode.


Would you like more details or clarification on any part of this? Here are some follow-up questions to explore:

  1. What is the impact of skewed data on the mean, median, and mode?
  2. How do you calculate the median for a dataset with an even number of data points?
  3. What are some other ways to visualize the central tendency of a dataset?
  4. How would the choice of central tendency measure change with outliers in the data?
  5. What are other statistical measures, like variance or standard deviation, used for understanding data spread?

Tip: When choosing between the mean, median, and mode, always consider the distribution of your data (whether it's symmetrical, skewed, etc.).

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Math Problem Analysis

Mathematical Concepts

Statistics
Measures of Central Tendency
Frequency Distribution

Formulas

Mean = (Σ(x * f)) / Σf
Median = Middle value of ordered data
Mode = Most frequent value

Theorems

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Suitable Grade Level

Grades 7-9