The dot plot shows how many cats are owned by each person in a neighborhood:

Dot plot titled Neighborhood Cats and labeled Number of Cats shows number line from 1 to 10. There are 6 dots over 1, 3 dots over 2, 2 dots over 3, 1 dot over 4, 0 dots over 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9, and 1 dot over 10.

Is the median or the mean a better measure of center for these data and why?

Mean, because the data are skewed and there is an outlier

Mean, because the data are symmetric and there are no outliers

Median, because the data are skewed and there is an outlier

Median, because the data are symmetric and there are no outliers

Question

Mathematics

Harrison Mcintyre

26 August, 11:34

The dot plot shows how many cats are owned by each person in a neighborhood:

Dot plot titled Neighborhood Cats and labeled Number of Cats shows number line from 1 to 10. There are 6 dots over 1, 3 dots over 2, 2 dots over 3, 1 dot over 4, 0 dots over 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9, and 1 dot over 10.

Is the median or the mean a better measure of center for these data and why?

Mean, because the data are skewed and there is an outlier

Mean, because the data are symmetric and there are no outliers

Median, because the data are skewed and there is an outlier

Median, because the data are symmetric and there are no outliers

+5

Answers (1)

Know the Answer?

Chana Booth · Answer 1

If we plot the data on the graph, we can see that the data is skewed to the right (positive skew) and there is an outlier. In skewed data and presence of outlier, the median is most commonly used measure of central tendency. This is because a positive skew would result in a positive bias to the mean. Meaning that it would be a lot larger than the median and not really representing the actual central tendency. The median however is less affected by the skew and outliers.

Answer: Median, because the data are skewed and there is an outlier