In a dataset with several extreme high scores, which measure best represents the typical value?

In a dataset with several extreme high scores, which measure best represents the typical value?

• A. mean
• B. median
• C. mode
• D. variance

Answer: (B)

When a dataset has several extreme high scores, the median best represents the typical value because it is resistant to outliers. The median is the middle value when the data are ordered, so extreme high scores don’t distort its position. In contrast, the mean is pulled upward by those outliers, making it less representative of the central tendency. The mode signifies the most frequent value, which can be unstable or uninformative in skewed data. Variance measures how spread out the values are rather than what a typical value is. So, the median provides the most accurate sense of a typical score in this situation.

When a dataset has several extreme high scores, the median best represents the typical value because it is resistant to outliers. The median is the middle value when the data are ordered, so extreme high scores don’t distort its position. In contrast, the mean is pulled upward by those outliers, making it less representative of the central tendency. The mode signifies the most frequent value, which can be unstable or uninformative in skewed data. Variance measures how spread out the values are rather than what a typical value is. So, the median provides the most accurate sense of a typical score in this situation.