Final answer:
The mean of the numbers is 63.6, the median is 70, and both values effectively represent the data set. The range of the numbers is 60.
Step-by-step explanation:
To compute the mean of the given numbers (23, 60, 70, 82, 83), you add them all together and then divide by the number of values:
Mean = (23 + 60 + 70 + 82 + 83) / 5 = 318 / 5 = 63.6
To find the median, you list the numbers in ascending order (already listed) and find the middle value:
Median = 70 (since it is the third number in the sorted list of five numbers).
In choosing between the mean and median to best describe the numbers, consider the distribution of the data. Here, there are no extreme outliers, so both the mean and the median effectively represent the data set. However, in the presence of outliers, the median is often preferred as it is not affected by extreme values as much as the mean is.
To compute the range of the numbers, subtract the smallest number from the largest number:
Range = 83 - 23 = 60