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.

   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?

   2.5
3. 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?

   2.5
4. 4.

   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
5. 5.

   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?

   1.5
6. 6.

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

   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 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.
   • The range, because it shows how big the typical dot is.
8. 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 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 shares the total equally among all the 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 IQR, because it covers the middle half of the dots, so it shows the stretch from lowest to highest
   • Either one, because both measure spread.
   • The median, because it is the middle of the values.
   • The range, because it covers every dot from smallest to biggest.
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?

    • Either one, because both measure spread.
    • 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.