M3.7.4 For the adult
Comparing two groups
Two teams both score 4 goals a game on average. Are the teams the same?
What this chapter teaches
Two groups can have the same mean and still differ. The range shows the spread. When one odd value pulls the mean, the median describes the group better. The mode is for the most common value.
Three questions to ask
There is no one right wording. Listen for the idea.
- Two teams both average 4 goals. What else would you ask to compare them?
- Why does one very large value change the mean more than the median?
- Which average would a school use to find the shoe size most children wear?
After the chapter, the learner can
- Compare two sets of data using an average and the range
- Choose the best average for a set of data
What they copy into their notebook
Compare groups with an average and the range. The same mean can hide a different spread. An outlier pulls the mean, so use the median. Use the mode for the most popular.