Stefano calculated the mean absolute deviation for the data set 32, 4, 12, 40, 20, and 24. His work is shown below.

Step 1: Find the mean.

mean = StartFraction 32 + 4 + 12 + 40 + 20 + 24 Over 6 EndFraction = 22

Step 2: Find each absolute deviation.

10, 18, 10, 18, 2, 2

Step 3: Find the mean absolute deviation.

M A D = StartFraction 10 + 18 + 10 + 18 + 2 + 2 Over 4 EndFraction = 15

What is Stefano's error?

Stefano should have divided by 6 when finding the mean absolute deviation

Step-by-step explanation:

took the test

To find the mean, you add all the numbers together and then divide by the number of numbers (6).

4 + 12 + 20 + 24 + 32 + 40 = 132

132/6 = 22

To find the mean absolute deviation, you will find the distance between each number and the mean and then divide this by 6 as well.

(22-4) + (22-12) + (22-20) + (24-22) + (32-22) + (40-22)

18 + 10 + 2 + 2 + 10 + 18 = 60

60/6 = 10

The mean absolute deviation is 10.

The correct answer is that Stefano should have divided by 6 when finding the mean absolute deviation.