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.

Describe the common mistake students make regarding measures of center and measures of spread.

How does the interquartile range help in understanding the spread of data?

What does a larger mean absolute deviation indicate about the spread of data?