Comparing Distributions

The __________ can be used to determine the mean.

• Histogram

• Line plot

• Box plot

Answer explanation

The line plot gives you individual values that are needed to calculate the mean

The _________can be used to determine the median.

• line plot

• box plot

• histogram

Answer explanation

The histogram does not give you individual values.

The _________ is an appropriate measure of center for a data set that is not symmetrical and has outliers.

• Mean

• Median

Answer explanation

Outliers will affect the media and not give the best representation of the central tendency.

Which display would you prefer to use to determine the median?

• box plot

• line plot

• stem and leaf

Answer explanation

The box plot displays the median without having to do any calculations.

The appropriate measure of spread for a data set that is skewed is...

• range

• standard deviation

• IQR

Answer explanation

The IQR gives a consistent measure of variability for skewed as well as normal distributions.

The _________ can be used to determine the interquartile range. (IQR)

• line plot

• box plot

• histogram

Answer explanation

The box plot is divided into quartiles. The IQR can be easily determined from it.

The _________ can be used to determine the range.

• Box plot

• Line plot

• Histogram

Answer explanation

You need to smallest and largest value to be able to determine the range.

The larger the standard deviation, the more the spread out the data is.

• TRUE

• FALSE

The best measure of variability for bell-shaped numerical data is

• IQR

• Range

• Standard Deviation

Answer explanation

The standard deviation of a data set is the variation of each value to the mean.

When using the mean to summarize the center, __________ should be used o describe the spread when the data is bell-shaped.

• IQR

• range

• standard deviation