Practice Set · Part 1
Choose Appropriate Measures
Pick up where we left off
Where we left off
Our goal: With my small group, I can choose the best measure of center for a data set based on its shape — one step at a time, with support.
The big idea: An outlier pulls the mean toward it, so the median is the better measure of center when the data has an outlier.
Model to copy — Example 1 · Data with an outlier
- A top scorer's points in 7 games are 22, 24, 20, 25, 23, 21, 58. Which measure better shows a typical game: the mean or the median?
- Look for an outlier: 58
- Find the mean: 22 + 24 + 20 + 25 + 23 + 21 + 58 = 193; 193 ÷ 7 ≈ 27.6
- Put the values in order. Find the median: 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 58; 4th value → 23
- Compare each measure to the games: 27.6 > 25
- The median, 23, better shows a typical game.
Start here
Use the model to solve the first problem. Then try these quick review questions from earlier lessons.
- 1
Same stepsFinish what the group started. Use the model above, step for step.
Let's do one together:- Choose the mean or the median for each data set. Set A: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. Set B: 4, 5, 6, 7, 40.
- Does set A have an outlier? (No. The values are close together.)
- So which measure should we use for set A? (The mean. It uses every value, and no value pulls it.)
- Which value in set B is an outlier? (40)
- Does 40 pull the mean up or down? Which measure is better? (Up. The mean is 62 ÷ 5 = 12.4. The median, 6, is better.)
My first step is ___ , because the problem asks for ___ .
Show your work - 2
Quick reviewThe mean of a data set is 20. A value is 26. What is the absolute deviation?
- A−6
- B6
- C26
- D46
- 3
Quick reviewThe mean of a data set is 15. One value is 11. What is the absolute deviation of that value from the mean?
- A−4
- B4
- C11
- D26
- 4
Quick reviewA data set has absolute deviations of 3, 1, 5, 2, 4. What is the MAD?
- A1
- B3
- C5
- D15
Practice Set · Part 2
Choose Appropriate Measures
Keep going
Try these on your own
Choose an answer. Then explain how you know.
- 5
Think it throughWhat is the mean ticket price?
- A$50
- B$51
- C$85
- D$260
Why is that the answer?
I chose ___ because ___ .
- 6
Think it throughWhat is the median ticket price?
- A$50
- B$51
- C$52
- D$85
How do you know?
I chose ___ because ___ .
- 7
Think it throughWhich measure better describes a 'typical' ticket?
- AThe median, because the $260 outlier pulls the mean far above most prices
- BThe mean, because it uses every value
- CNeither — you should use the mode
- DThe mean, because $85 is between the extremes
Explain your thinking.
I chose ___ because ___ .
- 8
Back to the modelWhat pattern do you notice about when median is the better choice?
The median is better when the data has ___ because the mean gets pulled toward ___. The mean is better when the data is ___ because ___.
Sort it again — on paper this time
Write the letter of the group each one belongs in.
- Basketball: Points per game — 18, 20, 19, 22, 21, 20 (no outliers, symmetric)
- Baseball: Home runs — 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, 2, 25 (one player hit 25)
- Soccer: Goals per season — 8, 10, 9, 11, 7, 10, 9 (clustered together)
- Football: Rushing yards — 45, 52, 48, 50, 210 (one breakout game)
- Swimming: 100m times — 58s, 59s, 57s, 60s, 58s (consistent data)
- Track: Long jump — 12ft, 13ft, 11ft, 14ft, 42ft (one record jump)
Practice Set · Part 3
Choose Appropriate Measures
Words and reasoning
Word bank · Banco de palabras
Use the words
Fill each blank with a word from the bank.
- The average of a data set is the ___.
- The middle value when data is in order, often best when there is an outlier, is the ___.
- A value far from the rest of the data, which can pull the mean, is an ___.
- Data that is bunched on one side with a tail on the other is ___.
Explain the thinking
- 9
Find the mistakeRead the mistake. Explain what went wrong, then show the correct step.
The mistake: A common mistake in Appropriate Measures is defaulting to the mean just because "it uses all the data," without first checking whether an outlier or skewed shape is present. - 10
Say moreAs you sort scenarios into 'Use Mean' or 'Use Median,' what clue tells you a data set needs the median instead of the mean?
I use the median when the data has ___.
- 11
Change one numberGo back to Part 1 and pick one problem you already solved. Change one number in it, then solve your new version. Show every step.
If ___ changed to ___ , then ___ .
Show your work
Practice Set · Part 4
Choose Appropriate Measures
Show what you know
Last check
These two come from Lesson 2.9. If they are shaky, that is the lesson to revisit — not this one.
- 12
Show what you knowQuick check — you've got this: Data set: 15, 18, 16, 17, 15, 72. Which measure of center best represents the data?
- AMean, because it uses all values
- BMean, because it is always best
- CMedian, because 72 is an outlier
- DNeither works for this data
Explain your choice.
I know it is ___ because ___ .
- 13
From Lesson 2.9Quick check — you've got this: Data set: 4, 8, 6, 10, 2. The mean is 6. What is the MAD?
- A0
- B2.4
- C6
- D12
- 14
From Lesson 2.9Which keeper should the coach start, and why?
- AKeeper B, because two shutouts is best
- BEither one, because the means are equal
- CKeeper A, because the smaller MAD (0.67) means more consistent performance
- DKeeper B, because a larger MAD means more skill
Check your progress
Choose the box that best describes how you feel about each skill.
| I can… | Not yet | Getting there | Got it |
|---|---|---|---|
| I can choose the best measure of center for a data set based on its shape — one step at a time, with support. | |||
| I can explain why it works: An outlier pulls the mean toward it, so the median is the better measure of center when the data has an… | |||
| I can talk through each step out loud using a sentence frame and the lesson's key words. |
One question I want to ask my group next time