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

Math · Problem-Solving and Data AnalysisEasy

The heights, in inches, of 66 tomato plants are 88, 1212, 99, 1414, 1212, and 55. What is the mean height, in inches, of the plants?

A

99

B

1010

C

10.510.5

D

1212

Show answer and explanation

Answer: B

The sum of the heights is 8+12+9+14+12+5=608 + 12 + 9 + 14 + 12 + 5 = 60 inches. Dividing by the 66 plants gives a mean of 606=10\frac{60}{6} = 10 inches.

Choice C is the median, the average of the two middle values, 99 and 1212, after the heights are put in order.

Why the other choices are wrong

  • A. 9 is the range, 14 minus 5, not the mean.
  • C. 10.5 is the median, the average of the middle values 9 and 12.
  • D. 12 is the mode, the value that appears most often.
Ask Owl about this questionNext question

Got it wrong? On SAT Owl, Owl looks at the answer you chose and explains the exact mistake, then gives you similar questions until it sticks. Get your predicted SAT score free, or take a free full-length practice test.