Math Problem Statement

Set of 4 positive whole numbers where median < mean < mode

Solution

To construct a set of 4 positive whole numbers satisfying the condition median<mean<mode\text{median} < \text{mean} < \text{mode}, let's analyze the problem step-by-step:

Conditions:

  1. Median: For 4 numbers, the median is the average of the two middle numbers when the numbers are ordered.
  2. Mean: The mean is the sum of all numbers divided by 4.
  3. Mode: The mode is the number that appears most frequently.

Approach:

  • Median < Mean: This means the central tendency of the data skews higher.
  • Mean < Mode: This implies the most frequently occurring number is larger than the average.

Let's construct such a set:

Example Set:

{1,2,2,6}\{1, 2, 2, 6\}

Step-by-Step Verification:

  1. Median: The ordered set is {1,2,2,6}\{1, 2, 2, 6\}. Median = 2+22=2\frac{2 + 2}{2} = 2.

  2. Mean: Mean = 1+2+2+64=114=2.75\frac{1 + 2 + 2 + 6}{4} = \frac{11}{4} = 2.75.

  3. Mode: Mode = 22, since it appears twice, which is more frequent than other numbers.

  4. Condition Check:

    • Median =2= 2,
    • Mean =2.75= 2.75,
    • Mode =2= 2,
    • Clearly, 2<2.75<62 < 2.75 < 6.

This set satisfies median<mean<mode\text{median} < \text{mean} < \text{mode}.


Would you like more examples or explanations? Here are some questions to explore further:

  1. Can you find another set of numbers meeting the condition?
  2. Why is the mean typically larger in skewed distributions?
  3. Can this condition be satisfied with non-integers?
  4. How does increasing the range of the data affect the relationship between mean, median, and mode?
  5. Can there be cases where the mean equals the mode?

Tip: Understanding how each central tendency measure behaves with skewness helps in constructing examples like these.

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Math Problem Analysis

Mathematical Concepts

Statistics
Measures of Central Tendency (Mean, Median, Mode)
Data Analysis

Formulas

Median for 4 numbers: (x2 + x3) / 2, where x2 and x3 are the second and third numbers in the ordered set
Mean: Sum of all numbers / Total number of elements
Mode: Most frequently occurring number

Theorems

Properties of central tendency
Relation between mean, median, and mode in skewed distributions

Suitable Grade Level

Grades 8-10