Final answer:
The accuracy of a weighted average versus a simple average depends on the context of the data and whether different data points contribute unevenly (C). The weighted average assigns different importance to data points, whereas the simple average treats them uniformly. So the correct answer is option C.
Step-by-step explanation:
When it comes to comparing the accuracy of a weighted average versus a simple average, the key factor is the context of the data and what is being measured. Answer C is correct: The accuracy depends on the specific data set and the weights assigned. A weighted average is used when different data points contribute unevenly to the final average, reflecting their relative importance or frequency. Conversely, a simple average treats all data points uniformly and is used when each value holds the same significance in the dataset. Precision in averages is related to the closeness of individual measurements to each other and to the true value, but whether a weighted or simple average is more precise depends on if the data requires considering this difference in significance or not.
An example to illustrate the use of a weighted average could be when calculating a student's overall grade for a course where different assignments and exams have different levels of importance. The weights reflect the importance of each component to the overall grade. On the other hand, to find the simple average height of a group of people, we might add all the heights together and divide by the number of people, since each person's height is given equal importance in this context.