Practice Set · Part 1
Describe Data by Mean Absolute Deviation
Pick up where we left off
Where we left off
Our goal: I can find the mean absolute deviation (MAD) to describe how spread out data is, explain how I can tell, and judge a case I have not seen before.
The big idea: The MAD measures spread: a small MAD means the values stay close to the mean, and a large MAD means they are spread out.
Model to copy — Example · Same mean, different spread
- Player A scored 18, 22, 20, 24, 16 points. Player B scored 20, 21, 20, 19, 20 points. Both have a mean of 20. Which player is more consistent?
- Check that both means are 20: 100 ÷ 5 = 20
- Find Player A's MAD: 2 + 2 + 0 + 4 + 4 = 12; 12 ÷ 5 = 2.4
- Find Player B's MAD: 0 + 1 + 0 + 1 + 0 = 2; 2 ÷ 5 = 0.4
- Compare the two MADs: 0.4 < 2.4
- Player B is more consistent. Player B's MAD is 0.4, and Player A's MAD is 2.4.
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.
Try it together — then prove it:- Find the MAD of this data set: 9, 10, 11.
- Find the mean. (30 ÷ 3 = 10)
- Find each distance from 10. Then find the MAD. (Distances 1, 0, 1 → (1 + 0 + 1) ÷ 3 = 2/3)
- The deviations −1, 0 and 1 add to 0. Why do we use distances instead? (Signed deviations always add to 0. Then every data set would look like it has no spread.)
Show your work - 2
Quick reviewFind the mean of 10, 14, 8, 12 and 16.
- A10
- B12
- C14
- D60
How do you know?
- 3
Quick reviewFour friends have 6, 9, 4 and 5 stickers. If they share them equally, how many does each get?
- A4
- B5
- C6
- D24
How do you know?
- 4
Quick reviewA student's first three quiz scores are 82, 90 and 86. What score on a fourth quiz gives a mean of 87?
- A86
- B88
- C90
- D92
How do you know?
Practice Set · Part 2
Describe Data by Mean Absolute Deviation
Keep going
Try these on your own
Choose an answer. Then explain how you know.
- 5
Think it throughWhat is each keeper's mean goals allowed per game?
- Aabout 1.67
- B2
- C6
- D10
Why is that the answer?
- 6
Think it throughWhat does a smaller MAD tell you?
- AThe values stay closer to the mean — the keeper is more consistent
- BThe keeper allowed fewer goals overall
- CThe keeper played fewer games
- DThe mean is wrong
How do you know? Give a second reason as well.
- 7
Think it throughWhich 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
Explain your thinking. What would have to change for a different choice to be right?
- 8
Back to the modelPlayer A's MAD is 2.4 points. If Player B's MAD is 7.2 points, what does that tell you about their consistency?
Practice Set · Part 3
Describe Data by Mean Absolute Deviation
Words and reasoning
Word bank · Banco de palabras
Use the words
Fill each blank with a word from the bank.
- The average distance of each value from the mean is the ___.
- How far a single value is from the mean is its ___.
- The distance of a number from zero, never negative (zero is allowed), is its ___.
- How far apart the data values are from each other is the ___.
Explain the thinking
- 9
Find the mistakeRead the mistake. Explain what went wrong, then show the correct step.
The mistake: A common mistake in Mean Absolute Deviation is adding the signed deviations (value − mean) instead of their absolute values, so the positives and negatives cancel out to 0. - 10
Say moreTo find the MAD for Player A (18, 22, 20, 24, 16, mean 20), why do we take the ABSOLUTE VALUE of each deviation before averaging?
- 11
Write your ownWrite your own problem about this situation, then solve it and show the answer. The situation: The forecast shows the expected high temperature for each day of this week: 75, 77, 78, 79, 80, 82 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit. The mean high for the week is 79 degrees, marked by the dashed line.
Show your work
Practice Set · Part 4
Describe Data by Mean Absolute Deviation
Show what you know
Last check
These two come from Lesson 2.8. If they are shaky, that is the lesson to revisit — not this one.
- 12
Show what you knowExplain your thinking — Data set: 4, 8, 6, 10, 2. The mean is 6. What is the MAD?
- A0
- B2.4
- C6
- D12
Explain your choice.
- 13
From Lesson 2.8Explain your thinking — Data set: 8, 12, 10, 14. What is the mean?
- A10
- B11
- C12
- D44
How do you know?
- 14
From Lesson 2.8Her nine games total 13 points below the target mean and 11 points above it. What must game 10 be for the data to balance at 15?
- A13 points — 2 below the target mean
- B15 points — exactly the target mean
- C17 points — 2 above the target mean
- D24 points — enough to double the points above
How do you know?
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 find the mean absolute deviation (MAD) to describe how spread out data is, explain how I can tell, and judge a case I have not seen before. | |||
| I can explain why it works: The MAD measures spread: a small MAD means the values stay close to the mean… | |||
| I can justify my answer to a skeptic and connect it to a second strategy or representation. |
One question I want to ask my group next time