Analyzing Measures of

Central Tendency
When to choose Mean, Median,
Mode and what they indicate
 Measures of Central Tendency
These are statistical terms that try to
find the center of the numbers that
are in a group of data.
Mean average
Median middle
Mode most common or most popular
Outlier a number in a set of data that is
much bigger or smaller than the rest of the
numbers
 Analysis of Mean
What you can determine from the mean
if numbers are above or below the mean.
this measure can be drastically affected by the
addition or deletion of numbers to the data

What you cannot determine

if there were any outliers outliers will substantially
distort the data either too high or too low.
what individual scores were

This is usually the best choice to describe

data unless there is an outlier.
 Analysis of Median
What you can determine from the median
if numbers are above or below the halfway point.
this measure is the least affected measurement if
new numbers are added to the data

What you cannot determine

if there were any outliers
what individual scores were

This is usually the best choice to describe

data if there is an outlier.
 Analysis of Mode
What you can determine from the mode
- Which number or numbers are there the most
frequently

What you cant determine from the mode

- Where the number is in the group of data
- What all the other numbers are

This is usually the best choice to describe

data if you want to select the most popular
value or item.
 Analysis of Range
What you can determine from the range
- How far apart the numbers are

What you cant determine from the range

- What the numbers are in the data set

This is usually the best choice to describe

data if you want to know the spread of the
data.
 Choosing the best Measure of Central Tendency
(worksheet for homework)

1. A retail store had total sales of $436,

$650, $530, $500, $650, $489, and
$423 last week. Which measure of data
would make the stores sales last week
appear the most profitable? Explain.
2. The heights of 5 starting players on the
basketball team are 75 in., 74 in., 73 in.,
70 in., and 68 in. Decide whether the
mean describes the data well. Explain.
3. The monthly car payments for Brandons
last 8 customers were $266, $285, $285,
$285, $285, $315, $325, $344. Decide
whether the mode describes this data well.
Explain.
4. At the end of the winter, the seven
sweaters left in stock at Griseldas Outlet
Store were brown, orange, green, orange,
brown, orange, orange and orange. Decide
which measure of central tendency is
appropriate for this data. Explain.
5. The profits at 5 schools that sold Gems &
Jewels products were $318.22, $440.79,
$607.16, $1090.38, $4790.15. Decide whether
the mean or median is the better measure of
central tendency for this data. Explain.