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7th grade Which average fits: mean, median or range? worksheet

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Which average fits: mean, median or range?

Grade 7 Math Worksheet

NameDate

Circle the best answer, or write your answer on the line.

  1. Jun recorded minutes of reading before bed for eight students (the bookmarks went missing). One student was far from the rest. How much greater is the mean than the median?

  2. Luz recorded bracelets made at camp for eight campers (the yarn tangled). One camper was far from the rest. How much greater is the mean than the median?

  3. Milo recorded minutes to finish a maze for eight students (the maze had a loop). One student was far from the rest. How much lower is the mean without the far dot?

  4. Noah recorded words written in a minute for eight writers (the paper rustled). One writer was far from the rest. How much higher is the mean without the far dot?

  5. Ren recorded miles biked in a month for eight riders (the bell rang often). One rider was far from the rest. How much does the median change when the far dot is taken out?

  6. Tala recorded birds counted at a feeder for eight days (the feeder swayed). One day was far from the rest. How much does the median change when the far dot is taken out?

  7. Zee recorded snowflakes caught on a mitten for ten students (the mittens stayed dry). One student was far from the rest. How much does the median change when the far dot is taken out?

  8. Jun recorded cans of paint collected for the art room for eight students (the paint smelled fresh). They will share all of it equally. Which center tells how many each student gets?

    • Either one, because the mean and the median are both centers.
    • The median, because the far dot pulls the mean away from most dots.
    • The mean, because it shares the total equally among all the dots.
    • The range, because it shows how big the typical dot is.
  9. Luz recorded inches of snow measured for eight yards (the snowman waved) and wants to show the whole stretch from lowest to highest. Which measure fits?

    • Either one, because both measure spread.
    • The IQR, because it covers the middle half of the dots, so it shows the stretch from lowest to highest
    • The median, because it is the middle of the values.
    • The range, because it covers every dot from smallest to biggest.
  10. Milo recorded millimeters of rain measured for eight days (the umbrella stayed open) and wants to show the whole stretch from lowest to highest. Which measure fits?

    • The median, because it is the middle of the values.
    • The range, because it covers every dot from smallest to biggest.
    • The IQR, because it covers the middle half of the dots.
    • Either one, because both measure spread.
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7th grade Which average fits: mean, median or range? worksheet – printable
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About this worksheet

Which average fits: mean, median or range?. Every version has 10 questions, and the answer key prints on the second page.

What your child will learn

  • I can say why one far dot pulls the mean but hardly moves the median, and report the median as the typical value when a far dot is there.
  • I can say when the mean is the right one anyway: when the question is about an equal share of a total.
  • I can choose the range for the whole stretch and the IQR for how spread out most of the dots are, and say how much a far dot changes each.

Standard: state-only (CCSS 6.SP.B.5d)

Words to know

far dot (outlier): A dot that sits far from all the others on the plot.

mean: The balance point: add every dot, then divide by the number of dots.

median: The middle dot; with two middle dots, halfway between them.

range: How far the plot stretches: right-most dot − left-most dot.

IQR: How far the middle half of the dots stretches: Q3 − Q1.

equal share: The amount each one gets if the total is shared out evenly.

typical: Like most of the dots: a value from the middle of the group.

Common mistakes

Your child picked the mean because it uses every dot.

Your child picked the median even though the question asked for an equal share of a total.

Your child picked the range as a typical value.

What to say

Ask: does one far dot pull the mean away from where most dots sit? Compare it with the middle dot.

Ask: if everything is shared equally, which center tells how much each one gets?

Ask: does the range tell where most dots sit, or how far across they stretch?

Questions parents ask

What is the most common mistake with which average fits: mean, median or range??

Your child picked the mean because it uses every dot.

How can I help my child with which average fits: mean, median or range??

Ask: does one far dot pull the mean away from where most dots sit? Compare it with the middle dot.

Are these 7th grade math worksheets free to print?

Yes. All 6 printable versions at each level are free to print, with the answer key, and no account is needed.

More grade 7 math

See all grade 7 math

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