Question

Vicki measured the midnight temperatures in 4 locations in Alaska. The temperatures were -7, -2, 1, 4.

What is the mean absolute deviation of the temperatures?

The mean is -1

Answer 1

1. Find the mean of the data: (-7 -2 + 1 + 4)/4 = -1

2. Find the absolute value of differences between each data an the mean:

1) |-7 -(-1)| = |-7 + 1| = |-6| = 6
2) |-2-(-1)| = |-2+1| = |-1| = 1
3) |1 -(-1)| = |1+1| = |2| = 2
4) |4 -(-1)| = |4+1|=|5|=5

3) Calculate the mean of those differences:

( 6 + 1 + 2 + 5) / 4 = 14/4 = 3.5