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VCE Stuff => VCE Mathematics => VCE Mathematics/Science/Technology => VCE Subjects + Help => VCE General & Further Mathematics => Topic started by: yazza on May 06, 2013, 06:32:31 pm

Title: mean vs median
Post by: yazza on May 06, 2013, 06:32:31 pm

which is a better measure of centre for data that does not contain any outliers?

Title: Re: mean vs median
Post by: kaiipoo_ on May 06, 2013, 08:25:01 pm

The mean !

The mean divides the data distribution in two, that is, 50% will lie to the left and 50% will lie to the right.

Title: Re: mean vs median
Post by: Stick on May 06, 2013, 10:00:20 pm

Quote from: yazza on May 06, 2013, 06:32:31 pm

which is a better measure of centre for data that does not contain any outliers?

Depends on the skew. If there is any sort of skew in the data, you should be using the median. If it's symmetrical, either one is fine. I always went with the median because it was safe every time.