AP Statistics Exploring Data

Describing Quantitative Data with Numbers

EdTech 541
Angie Kruzich
September 2014
Learning Objectives

MEASURE center using mean & median
CALCULATE mean
DETERMINE median
COMPARE mean & median
CONSTRUCT a boxplot

Measuring Center: The Mean
The most common measure of center
is the ordinary arithmetic average,
or mean, , (pronounced x-bar).






x
Calculate mean by adding all data
values and dividing by number of
observations.
If the n observations are x
1
, x
2
, x
3
,
, x
n
, then:

x
sum of observations
n

x
1
x
2
... x
n
n
Mean Definition
In mathematics, the capital Greek
letter (sigma) is short for add
them all up. Therefore, the mean
formula can also be written:

x
x
i

n
More Mean
Measuring Center: The Median

Another common measure of center is
the median. The median describes
the midpoint of a distribution.
Median Definition

It is the midpoint of a distribution such
that half of the observations are
smaller and the other half larger.
Finding Median
1. Arrange numbers from smallest to
largest.
2. The Median is the number in the
middle, unless

Odd versus Even Numbers of Data
Interactive Quiz
Obtain an Nspire
classroom calculator

Log on

Your teacher will be
sending you a
document

Quiz Measuring Center
Calculate the mean
and median of the
commuting times
(in minutes) of 20
randomly selected
New York workers.

10 30 5 25 40 20 10 15 30 20 15 20 85 15 65 15 60 60 40 45
Quiz Measuring Center
On page 1.1 finish
entering the
data in the
spreadsheet.

Press control right/left
arrow to change pages
on calculator.
10 30 5 25 40 20 10 15 30 20 15 20 85 15 65 15 60 60 40 45
Quiz Measuring Center
Read the
instructions
on page 1.2.
Quiz Measuring Center
On page 1.3 use
the calculator
page provided
to calculate
the mean.
Watch your
formatting!


Quiz Measuring Center
On page 1.4 and 1.5
enter your final
solutions.

Press control arrow
up when you are
done.

0 5
1 005555
2 0005
3 00
4 005
5
6 005
7
8 5
Key: 4|5
represents a
New York
worker who
reported a 45-
minute travel
time to work.

M
20 25
2
22.5 minutes
Quiz Median Solution
To calculate the median:
10 30 5 25 40 20 10 15 30 20 15 20 85 15 65 15 60 60 40 45
Quiz Mean Solution


To calculate the mean:

x
10 30 5 25 ... 40 45
20
31.25 minutes
10 30 5 25 40 20 10 15 30 20 15 20 85 15 65 15 60 60 40 45

If mean and median are close together,
then distribution is roughly symmetric.
If mean and median are exactly the same,
distribution is exactly symmetric.

Comparing the Mean and the Median



In a skewed distribution, the mean is
usually farther out in the long tail than is
the median.

Comparing the Mean and the Median
The mean and median measure center in different
ways.
Dont confuse the average value of a variable
with its typical value.

Comparing the Mean and the Median
The Five Number Summary
The mean and median tell us little about the tails
of a distribution.
The five-number summary of a distribution
consists of:



What are Quartiles?
Constructing Boxplots
Also known as box-and-whisker plots.

The five number summary gives us values to
construct a boxplot:

Minimum Q
1
M Q
3
Maximum



Constructing Boxplots
Consider our NY travel times data.


In your groups, discuss & construct a
boxplot for the data on your Nspires.

Constructing Boxplots
10 30 5 25 40 20 10 15 30 20 15 20 85 15 65 15 60 60 40 45
M = 22.5 Q
3
= 42.5 Q
1
= 15 Min=5
10 30 5 25 40 20 10 15 30 20 15 20 85 15 65 15 60 60 40 45
5 10 10 15 15 15 15 20 20 20 25 30 30 40 40 45 60 60 65 85
Max=85
Constructing Boxplots
Summary
Mean is average
Median is middle
How to compare mean and median
How to construct a boxplot
Resources
Images
Slide 3 Courtesy of Math is Fun
http://www.mathsisfun.com/definitions/mean.html
Slide 6 Courtesy of W3.org
http://www.w3.org/2013/11/w3c-highlights/
Slide 7 Courtesy of Knowledge Center
http://knowledgecenter.csg.org/kc/content/stats-101-mean-versus-median
Slide 8 Courtesy of Sparkle Box
http://www.sparklebox.co.uk/6771-6780/sb6779.html#.VCigcRaK18E
Slide 10 Courtesy of Underwood Distributing
http://www.underwooddistributing.com/shop/shop?page=shop.browse&c
ategory_id=109
Slide 11 Courtesy of Streetsblog USA
http://usa.streetsblog.org/2008/01/10/does-times-square-have-too-many-
people-or-just-too-many-cars/


Images
Slide 18 Courtesy of Profit of Education
http://profitofeducation.org/?p=2152
Slide 19 and 20 Courtesy of Data Analysis for Instructional Leaders
https://www.floridaschoolleaders.org/general/content/NEFEC/dafil/lesso
n2-5.htm
Slide 21 Courtesy of Penn State
https://onlinecourses.science.psu.edu/stat100/node/11
Slide 23 and 25 Courtesy of GCSE Math Notes
http://astarmathsandphysics.com/gcse-maths-notes/gcse-maths-notes-
five-figure-summaries-and-boxplots.html

Reference
Starnes, D., Yates, D., & Moore, D. (2011). The practice of statistics. New York,
New York: W.H. Freeman and Company.
Resources