Summarizing the Spread of Data: Range and Mean Absolute Deviation

This lesson teaches how to summarize data spread using range and mean absolute deviation (MAD). It explains how to read a line plot, calculate the range by subtracting the smallest number from the largest, and find the mean absolute deviation by measuring the average distance of data points from the mean. The lesson highlights the difference between mean and MAD, emphasizing that both are measures of data spread. A comparison of range and MAD is provided, showing how they indicate data closeness. The lesson concludes with a summary of these concepts.

What does the mean absolute deviation measure in a data set?

• The spread of data points from the mean

• The highest value in the data set

• The total number of data points

• The average value of the data set

How is the range of a data set calculated?

• By dividing the total sum by the number of data points

• By subtracting the lowest value from the highest value

• By adding the highest and lowest values

• By finding the average of all data points

What is the first step in calculating the mean absolute deviation?

• Counting the number of data points

• Identifying the highest data point

• Calculating the mean of the data set

• Finding the range of the data set

If all responses in a data set are identical, what would the range and mean absolute deviation be?

• Both would be zero

• Range would be zero, mean absolute deviation would be high

• Range would be high, mean absolute deviation would be zero

• Both would be high

What do a range of 5 and a mean absolute deviation of 1.5 indicate about the data?

• The data set has a low mean

• The data points are very spread out

• The data points are very close together

• The data set has a high mean