Question bank / One-variable data: distributions and measures of center and spread

Math · Problem-Solving and Data AnalysisMedium
Number of books Frequency
0 3
1 5
2 6
3 4
4 2

The frequency table summarizes the number of books each of 2020 students read over the summer. Which of the following is true about the mean and median of the data?

A

The mean is greater than the median.

B

The mean is less than the median.

C

The mean is equal to the median.

D

There is not enough information to compare the mean and the median.

Show answer and explanation

Answer: B

With 2020 values, the median is the average of the 1010th and 1111th values. The cumulative counts are 33 (for 00), 88 (through 11), and 1414 (through 22), so the 1010th and 1111th values are both 22 and the median is 22. The mean is 0(3)+1(5)+2(6)+3(4)+4(2)20=3720=1.85\frac{0(3)+1(5)+2(6)+3(4)+4(2)}{20} = \frac{37}{20} = 1.85. Since 1.85<21.85 < 2, the mean is less than the median.

Choice D is tempting because the individual values aren't listed, but a frequency table gives enough information to find both measures exactly.

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