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The table below shows the number of animals that were adopted from a local animal shelter.

Month No. of Adopted Animals
January 17
February 15
March 19
April 22
May 17
June 20

Which measure of center should be used to find the average number of adopted animals per month?

 

 

The mean should be used because the data contains no outliers.
The median should be used because the data contains an outlier.
The range should be used because the highest and lowest values in the data set determine the average.
The mode should be used because there are several repeat data points.
 Dec 19, 2014

Best Answer 

 #1
avatar+23252 
+5

The usual methods to find the average are:  mean, median, and mode.

The range is not a method to find the average.

If you are specifically asked to find the mode, do so; otherwise do not use the mode to find the average.

Use the mean unless there is an outlier which will strongly influence the mean; if there is that kind of outlier, use the median.

For this data set is there an outlier (a number that is very, very much larger or smaller than the rest of the data)?

If there is, use the median, if not use the mean.

 Dec 19, 2014
 #1
avatar+23252 
+5
Best Answer

The usual methods to find the average are:  mean, median, and mode.

The range is not a method to find the average.

If you are specifically asked to find the mode, do so; otherwise do not use the mode to find the average.

Use the mean unless there is an outlier which will strongly influence the mean; if there is that kind of outlier, use the median.

For this data set is there an outlier (a number that is very, very much larger or smaller than the rest of the data)?

If there is, use the median, if not use the mean.

geno3141 Dec 19, 2014

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