Mean and Outliers: Fun Word Problems for 5th Graders

A class of 5 students scored the following on a math test: 85, 90, 78, 92, and 100. What is the mean score?

• 91

• 88

• 87

• 89

In a basketball game, Team A scored 50, 60, 55, and 70 points in four games. What is the mean score for Team A?

• 58.75

• 60.5

• 62.75

• 55.25

Team B scored 45, 50, 55, 60, and 100 points in their games. How does the outlier of 100 affect the mean score compared to Team A?

• The outlier of 100 has no effect on Team B's mean score.

• The outlier of 100 makes Team B's mean score equal to Team A's.

• The outlier of 100 raises Team B's mean score to 62, affecting the comparison with Team A.

• The outlier of 100 lowers Team B's mean score to 50.

A gardener measured the heights of 5 plants: 12 cm, 15 cm, 14 cm, 13 cm, and 30 cm. What is the mean height, and how does the 30 cm plant affect it?

• The mean height is 14 cm, and the 30 cm plant has no effect.

• The mean height is 16.8 cm, and the 30 cm plant raises the mean.

• The mean height is 15 cm, and the 30 cm plant lowers the mean.

• The mean height is 18 cm, and the 30 cm plant does not affect it.

In a science experiment, the weights of 5 apples were recorded as 150g, 160g, 155g, 170g, and 300g. What is the mean weight, and what is the effect of the outlier?

• Mean weight is 150g; the outlier decreases the mean.

• Mean weight is 200g; the outlier has no effect.

• Mean weight is 175g; the outlier is irrelevant.

• Mean weight is 187g; the outlier increases the mean.

Two classes took a math test. Class 1 had scores of 80, 85, 90, and 95. Class 2 had scores of 70, 75, 80, 100. What are the means of both classes, and which class performed better?

• Class 1 mean: 88, Class 2 mean: 82. Both classes performed equally.

• Class 1 mean: 87.5, Class 2 mean: 81.25. Class 1 performed better.

• Class 1 mean: 90, Class 2 mean: 75. Class 1 performed worse.

• Class 1 mean: 85, Class 2 mean: 80. Class 2 performed better.

A family recorded their weekly grocery expenses: $100, $120, $110, $130, and $500. What is the mean expense, and how does the $500 affect the average?

• The mean expense is $192, and the $500 raises the average significantly.

• The mean expense is $200, and the $500 lowers the average.

• The mean expense is $180, and the $500 slightly increases the average.

• The mean expense is $150, and the $500 has no effect on the average.

In a running club, the times (in minutes) for 5 members were 25, 30, 28, 27, and 50. What is the mean time, and how does the outlier of 50 minutes impact the average?

• The mean time is 32 minutes, and the outlier of 50 minutes increases the average.

• The mean time is 35 minutes, and the outlier of 50 minutes slightly increases the average.

• The mean time is 28 minutes, and the outlier of 50 minutes has no effect on the average.

• The mean time is 30 minutes, and the outlier of 50 minutes decreases the average.

A teacher recorded the number of books read by her students: 5, 6, 7, 8, and 20. What is the mean number of books read, and how does the 20 affect the mean?

• The mean number of books read is 8, and the 20 has no effect on the mean.

• The mean number of books read is 10, and the 20 decreases the mean.

• The mean number of books read is 7.5, and the 20 is an outlier that skews the mean.

• The mean number of books read is 9.2, and the 20 increases the mean.

In a survey, the ages of 5 participants were 10, 11, 12, 13, and 50. What is the mean age, and what is the impact of the outlier age of 50 on the average?

• Mean age is 15; the outlier age of 50 is irrelevant to the calculation.

• Mean age is 20; the outlier age of 50 lowers the average.

• Mean age is 12; the outlier age of 50 has no effect on the average.

• Mean age is 19.2; the outlier age of 50 raises the average significantly.