Question

The student populations of 10 universities are shown. 38,364 39,143 39,619 40,742 41,038 41,828 45,289 48,960 49,863 54,513 Determine whether the mean or the median best describes the center of the data set and give its value. (4 points)

Answer 1

Answer:

Median better describes the data

Step-by-step explanation:

MEAN:

Mean = sum of data/number of data

Mean = 38,364+ 39,143+ 39,619+ 40,742+ 41,038+ 41,828+ 45,289+ 48,960+ 49,863+ 54,513 / 10

Mean = 439359/10

Mean = 43935.9

MEDIAN

Median = n/2

Median = 10/2

Median = 5th and 6th term / 2

5th term: 41038

6th term: 41828

Median = 5th + 6th term/2

Median = 41038 + 41828 / 2

Median = 82866/2

Median = 41433

The median better describes the data as it is more in the middle values. The middle values in the data set are the 5th term and 6th term which is 41,038 and 41,828 respectively. Median is 41,433 which lies exactly between these. Mean is 43935.9 which is after the 6th term which means it is not the centre of the data set.