Question

For a symmetric distribution, the best descriptor of the center is the (blank).

A. Mean

B. Median

C. Mode

D. Range

Answer 1

In a symmetric distribution, the mean, median, and mode coincide and are thus equally representative of the center. However, the median is often the preferred measure as it is unaffected by extreme values or outliers.

Step-by-step explanation:

For a symmetric distribution, the best descriptor of the center is the median. This is because in a symmetric distribution, the mean, median, and mode all coincide at the central point of the distribution, reflecting the symmetrical balance of the data. Therefore, each of these measures of centrality is equally representative of the center in a perfectly symmetrical distribution. However, amongst them, the median is often preferred as the best descriptor since it is not affected by extreme values or outliers that could potentially skew the mean.