Describing the Spread of Data: Range, Interquartile Range, and Mean Absolute Deviation

This lesson covers how to describe the spread of data using range, interquartile range, and mean absolute deviation. It begins with an introduction to line plots and common mistakes in understanding data spread. The lesson then explains how to calculate the range by subtracting the smallest data point from the largest. Next, it details finding the interquartile range using a box plot and percentiles. Finally, it covers calculating the mean absolute deviation to measure how far data points are from the mean, indicating the spread of the data.

What is the primary focus of this lesson?

• Measures of center

• Calculating percentages

• Measures of spread

• Reading line plots

How do you calculate the range of a data set?

• Multiply the smallest and largest data points

• Subtract the smallest data point from the largest

• Add the smallest and largest data points

• Divide the largest data point by the smallest

What is the first step in finding the interquartile range?

• Determine the range

• Identify the mode

• Find the median

• Calculate the mean

What does the interquartile range represent?

• The average distance from the mean

• The difference between the highest and lowest data points

• The spread of the entire data set

• The spread of the middle half of the data points

What does the mean absolute deviation measure?

• The spread of the middle half of the data points

• The most frequently occurring data point

• The average distance of each data point from the mean

• The difference between the highest and lowest data points

How is the mean absolute deviation calculated?

• By finding the median of the data set

• By identifying the most common data point

• By subtracting the smallest data point from the largest

• By averaging the distances of each data point from the mean

What does a mean absolute deviation of 0 indicate?

• The data set has a large range

• The data points are widely spread

• The data set is skewed

• The data points are all the same