Mean vs Median Statistics Example 1
Follow the full solution, then compare it with the other examples linked below.
Example 1
mediumHouse prices on a street (in thousands): 200, 210, 190, 205, 195, 800. Calculate the mean and median. Which better represents a typical house price?
Solution
- 1 Step 1: Mean = thousand.
- 2 Step 2: Ordered: 190, 195, 200, 205, 210, 800. Median = thousand.
- 3 Step 3: The mean (300k) is pulled up by the outlier (800k). The median (202.5k) better represents a typical house price.
Answer
Mean = , Median = . The median is more representative.
Outliers affect the mean but not the median. When data is skewed, the median is often a better measure of centre because it is resistant to extreme values.
About Mean vs Median
Mean and median are both measures of center but respond differently to extreme values (outliers). The mean is pulled toward outliers because it uses every value in its calculation, while the median is resistant to outliers because it depends only on the middle position.
Learn more about Mean vs Median →More Mean vs Median Examples
Example 2 medium
Test scores: 78, 82, 79, 81, 80. Calculate both the mean and median. What do you notice?
Example 3 mediumSalaries at a small company: [formula]32k, [formula]33k, [formula]150k. Should the company report th
Example 4 mediumA runner's practice times (in minutes) are 24, 25, 24, 26, 25, 24. Would the mean or the median bett