The dot plot below shows the number of cakes 31 chefs made in a week: Dot plot labeled Number of Cakes Made shows 4 dots over 1, 1 dot over 5, 2 dots over 6, 3 dots over 7, 6 dot over 8, 7 dots over 9, and 8 dots over 10. Is the median or the mean a better center for this data and why? Mean; because the data is skewed and there are outliers Mean; because the data is symmetric and there are outliers Median; because the data is not skewed and there are outliers Median; because the data is not symmetric and there are outliers

Question

Stafford

Mathematics

12 September, 17:46

The dot plot below shows the number of cakes 31 chefs made in a week: Dot plot labeled Number of Cakes Made shows 4 dots over 1, 1 dot over 5, 2 dots over 6, 3 dots over 7, 6 dot over 8, 7 dots over 9, and 8 dots over 10. Is the median or the mean a better center for this data and why? Mean; because the data is skewed and there are outliers Mean; because the data is symmetric and there are outliers Median; because the data is not skewed and there are outliers Median; because the data is not symmetric and there are outliers

+4

Answers (1)

Know the Answer?

Valentino Small · Answer 1

The median, because the data is not symmetric and there are outliers is the data is not symmetric and there are outliers.

The median of the data set is 8 cakes, while the average is 7.5.

However, 21 of the 31 chefs, or roughly 2/3, made 8 or more cakes. This makes the median a better center for this data, since the data is clearly skewed. The four chefs that made 1 cake each brings the average down, skewing the mean and making the median a better representation of the data.