Provide an appropriate response.

39) Find a set of 7 scores that has the same mean but a smaller standard deviation than the

set {65, 71, 77, 80, 82, 90, 96}.

You don't even have to look up the definition of 'standard deviation'. You only

have to remember that 'smaller standard deviation' means 'less spread-out'.

First, let's find the mean (average). It's not supposed to change:

1/7th of (65 + 71 + 77 + 80 + 82 + 90 + 96) = 561/7 = 80 and 1/7.

Now, just pick 7 scores that total 561 and are all bunched up.

The easiest way would be 80, 80, 80, 80, 80, 80, 81.

But that's so easy that it feels like cheating.

Let's say 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, and 84.