Question

Some of Mrs. Turay’s eighth graders took the PSAT test. Score totals of ten of her students are below. Calculate the mean and the median, and determine which provides a better view of the score data.

Scores:

60, 62, 67, 69, 70, 70, 71, 75, 76, 120

The mean test score total is .


The median test score total is .


Which measure of center best represents the test data?

Answer 1

Mean: 74

Median: 70

Best choice: Mean

Explanation:

The mean (also called average) is the sum of all the numbers in a set, divided by the number of data points. In this case it is:

60+62+67+69+70+70+71+75+76+120=740

The sum of all the data points is 740, so you divide that by the number of values you have, in this case 10.

740/10=74

The median is just the value in the middle of the data set, where half of the values are lower and half are higher. This set is an even number, so there isn't a true middle value. Instead, you find the 2 numbers in the middle, 70 and 70, and divide them by 2. This will leave 70 as the median.

The mean almost always provides a more accurate view of the data set as a while, because it takes every value into consideration.

Answer 2

1: 74

2: 70

3: Median