MATHS - Statistics - Which Average to Use

The video tutorial explains the three common types of averages: mean, median, and mode. It provides examples of how to calculate each and discusses when to use them based on the type of data: categorical, ordinal, or interval. The tutorial highlights the sensitivity of the mean to outliers and offers guidelines for selecting the appropriate average for different data sets.

What is the mean of a data set?

• The highest value in the set

• The most frequently occurring value

• The middle value in an ordered set

• The sum of all values divided by the number of values

Which average is most suitable for categorical data?

• Median

• Mean

• Range

• Mode

When dealing with ordinal data, which average provides a better estimate?

• Standard Deviation

• Mode

• Median

• Mean

Why might the mean not be the best choice for skewed data?

• It is not affected by outliers

• It is too sensitive to outliers

• It is the same as the mode

• It is always equal to the median

For interval data that is not skewed, which average is typically used?

• Variance

• Mode

• Median

• Mean