Which average fits: mean, median or range?

Answer Key - Grade 7 Math Worksheet

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

1. 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?

   2.75
2. 2.

   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?

   2.5
3. 3.

   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?

   0.5
4. 4.

   Ari recorded minutes of violin practice for eight students. One student was far from the rest (the bow squeaked). Which center fits the typical practice time better?

   • The range, because it shows how big the typical dot is in this data set
   • The mean, because it uses every dot.
   • Either one, because the mean and the median are both centers.
   • The median, because the far dot pulls the mean away from most dots.
5. 5.

   Bo recorded pencils collected for the class for eight students (the pencils rolled around). They will share all of it equally. Which center tells how many each student gets?

   • The mean, because it shares the total equally among all the dots.
   • 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 range, because it shows how big the typical dot is.
6. 6.

   Esme recorded minutes of sleep lost to a noisy night for eight students. One student was far from the rest (one tent stayed quiet). Which center fits the typical number of minutes better?

   • The range, because it shows how big the typical dot is.
   • The median, because the far dot pulls the mean away from most dots.
   • The mean, because it uses every dot.
   • Either one, because the mean and the median are both centers.
7. 7.

   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?

   • The mean, because it shares the total equally among all the dots.
   • The median, because the far dot pulls the mean away from most dots.
   • Either one, because the mean and the median are both centers.
   • The range, because it shows how big the typical dot is.
8. 8.

   Kira recorded minutes of homework for eight students. One student was far from the rest (the homework grew long). Which measure shows how spread out most of them are?

   • The median, because it is the middle of the values, so it also shows how spread out they are
   • The IQR, because the far dot stretches the range but not the middle half.
   • Either one, because both measure spread.
   • The range, because it uses the smallest and biggest dots.
9. 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?

   • The range, because it covers every dot from smallest to biggest.
   • The median, because it is the middle of the values.
   • 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
10. 10.

    Noah recorded kites flown on a windy day for eight parks. One park was far from the rest (the wind showed off). Which measure shows how spread out most of them are?

    • The median, because it is the middle of the values, so it also tells how far apart they are
    • The range, because it uses the smallest and biggest dots.
    • The IQR, because the far dot stretches the range but not the middle half.
    • Either one, because both measure spread.