Averages and Spread
Ages 16–18Difficulty adapts to you
Averages and Spread
The mean shares the total equally, the median is the middle after ordering, and the mode is the most frequent value. Measures of spread show how close or scattered values are. Choose a measure that suits the question and the shape of the data.
Your goals
- ✓You can use mean, median, mode, range, and interquartile range to describe a data set.
- ✓You can use Averages and Spread, model correctly.
- ✓You can use the definitions, units, assumptions, and examples to check your answer.
Words to know
- Averages and Spread:
- Use mean, median, mode, range, and interquartile range to describe a data set.
- model:
- A rule or representation used to describe a situation and make a prediction.
Examples
- 1For 4, 6, 6, 9, 15, the mean is 40 ÷ 5 = 8, the median is 6, and the range is 11.
- 2An extreme value can pull the mean strongly while leaving the median less affected.
Check these
- • Do not skip the meaning of a term or give a result without explaining what it means.
- • Keep every number, symbol, label, and unit in its correct place.
- • Show enough working to check how you reached your answer.
Helpful habits
- • Read the whole question before choosing what to do.
- • Show one clear step at a time and check each step.
- • If you are stuck, draw a model, try smaller numbers, or revisit the example.
Now try your own
Create your own averages and spread example, solve it, and explain how you checked it.
Professor Wise Owl
Wisdom & Understanding“Patience and practice make perfect — give yourself time.”