the median mark as a percent was 80%. The mean was 73%....

terminatorV

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The median mark as a percent on a class set of test scores was 80%. The mean was 73%

a) What does the median tell you about the test scores?

Half of the students obtained 80% or lower while the other got 80% or more??

b) What can you tell from looking at the median and the mean together?
The median is greater that the mean which means that most students probably got lower than 80%???

please help.:idea:
 
You're not making sense. You just told us that half the students achieved 80% or less. How can you then say that "most students probably got lower than 80%"? These statements are quite inconsistent.

Let's remember, shall we, that the median is LESS sensitive to extreme values. That is all you need to answer the question.
 
It seems like you need to write out some possibilities, to better see what's happening with the median. But, first, make sure that you understand the definition of median; if you're not sure, please explain what's puzzling you. :cool:

For example, the median of the following set is 80, but half of the numbers are not below 80:

32, 45, 80, 80, 80, 80, 80, 80, 100
 
The median...of test scores was 80%. The mean was 73%

b) What can you tell from looking at the median and the mean together?
What is the definition of "median"? What is the definition of "mean"?

Does the value of the middle score tell you anything about the sizes of the scores on either side of the middle? For instance, does it tell you if (many or all of) the scores above the median were all very close to 80% or very close to 100%? Does it tell you if (many or all of) the scores were close to 79% or 10%? Does the mean give you any information in that regard? Does the comparison of the median and mean give you any information in that regard? ;)
 
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