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.

   Ari recorded minutes to solve a puzzle for seven students. One student was far from the rest (the puzzle fought back). Which center fits the typical time better?

   • The median, because the far dot pulls the mean away from most dots.
   • Either one, because the mean and the median are both centers of the data
   • The range, because it shows how big the typical dot is.
   • The mean, because it uses every dot.
2. 2.

   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?

   • Either one, because the mean and the median are both centers.
   • The mean, because it uses every dot, and the far dot should count as well
   • The range, because it shows how big the typical dot is.
   • The median, because the far dot pulls the mean away from most dots.
3. 3.

   Esme recorded stickers collected for seven club members (the stickers sparkled). They will share all of it equally. Which center tells how many each member gets?

   • The range, because it shows how big the typical dot is.
   • 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.
4. 4.

   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
   • Either one, because the mean and the median are both centers.
   • The mean, because it uses every dot.
   • The median, because the far dot pulls the mean away from most dots.
5. 5.

   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
6. 6.

   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
7. 7.

   Tala recorded minutes of bike riding after school for seven riders (the bells rang). One rider was far from the rest. How much greater is the mean than the median?

   3
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 mean, because it uses every dot.
   • 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.
10. 10.

    Esme recorded pages read in one night for seven students. One student was far from the rest (the lamp stayed on). Which center fits the typical number of pages better?

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