Which average fits: mean, median or range?

Answer Key - Grade 7 Math Worksheet - Building Confidence

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

1. 1.

   Bo recorded cans brought to a food drive for seven families. One family was far from the rest (one box needed two people). Which center fits the typical number of cans better?

   • The mean, because it uses every dot, and the far dot should count as well
   • 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.
2. 2.

   Jun recorded minutes spent walking to school for seven students. One student was far from the rest (the backpacks kept up). Which center fits the typical walk better?

   • The range, because it shows how big the typical dot is in this data set
   • 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 mean, because it uses every dot.
3. 3.

   Kira recorded leaves collected for seven students (the leaves crunched). One student was far from the rest. How much lower is the mean without the far dot?

   3
4. 4.

   Luz recorded minutes on the bus for seven riders (the bus hummed along). One rider was far from the rest. How much lower is the mean without the far dot?

   2
5. 5.

   Noah recorded cookies baked for a sale for seven bakers (the cookies smelled great). One baker was far from the rest. How much lower is the mean without the far dot?

   2
6. 6.

   Pia recorded apples picked for seven pickers (one ladder wobbled). One picker was far from the rest. How much greater is the mean than the median?

   3
7. 7.

   Ren recorded minutes of piano practice for seven students (the metronome kept the beat). One student was far from the rest. How much greater is the mean than the median?

   2
8. 8.

   Zee recorded stars earned for seven students (the stars twinkled). One student was far from the rest. How much greater is the mean than the median?

   2
9. 9.

   Ari recorded shells collected on the beach for seven students. One student was far from the rest (one pail overflowed). Which center fits the typical number of shells better?

   • The range, because it shows how big the typical dot is.
   • 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 uses every dot.
10. 10.

    Bo recorded balloons blown up for seven party helpers (the balloons squeaked). They will share all of it equally. Which center tells how many each helper gets?

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