Measures of Central Tendency

25 questions

Question 1Question →

A mechanic serviced the following number of vehicles over a five-day period: 1010, 1515, 44, 1111, and 55.

What is the median number of vehicles serviced during this period?

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Answer: 1010

Answer

The median number of vehicles serviced is 1010.
To find the median, the values must first be ordered from least to greatest: 44, 55, 1010, 1111, 1515. The median is the middle number in this ordered list, which is 1010.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Arrange the numbers in ascending order.
44, 55, 1010, 1111, 1515
The median requires the data set to be sorted from least to greatest.
2
Identify the middle value in the sorted list.
The middle value is 1010.
Since there is an odd number of values in the list (five days), the median is exactly the middle number.

Key Concept

Measures of Central Tendency (Median)
Question 2Question →

Match each statistical request with its correct numerical value based on the provided data sets.

Click a left item, then click its matching right item

Items

The mode of the set: 2,4,4,6,92, 4, 4, 6, 9
The median of the ordered set: 1,3,5,10,151, 3, 5, 10, 15
The mean of the set: 2,6,102, 6, 10
The median of the ordered set: 3,5,9,113, 5, 9, 11

Matches

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Answer

Mode of 2, 4, 4, 6, 9 is 4. Median of 1, 3, 5, 10, 15 is 5. Mean of 2, 6, 10 is 6. Median of 3, 5, 9, 11 is 7.
Each statistical request is paired with its exact calculated value. The mode identifies the most common value, the median finds the central value of an ordered list (averaging the middle two if the count is even), and the mean calculates the mathematical average.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Calculate the mode for the first set: 2,4,4,6,92, 4, 4, 6, 9
The mode is 44.
The number 44 is the only value that appears more than once, making it the most frequent value.
2
Determine the median for the second set: 1,3,5,10,151, 3, 5, 10, 15
The median is 55.
Since the list is ordered and has an odd number of elements (55), the middle value is the third element.
3
Calculate the mean for the third set: 2,6,102, 6, 10
The mean is 66.
Add the numbers (2+6+10=182 + 6 + 10 = 18) and divide by the total count (33). 18÷3=618 \div 3 = 6.
4
Determine the median for the fourth set: 3,5,9,113, 5, 9, 11
The median is 77.
Since the list has an even number of elements (44), find the average of the two middle numbers (55 and 99). 5+92=142=7\frac{5 + 9}{2} = \frac{14}{2} = 7.

Key Concept

Measures of Central Tendency
Question 3Question →

A student recorded the number of books they read each month over a five-month period: 1212, 77, 1919, 44, and 1313. What is the median number of books read per month?

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Answer: 12

Answer

12
The median is the middle value of an ordered dataset. When the numbers are ordered from least to greatest (4,7,12,13,194, 7, 12, 13, 19), the middle value is 1212.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Sort the data set in ascending order.
4,7,12,13,194, 7, 12, 13, 19
The median must be found from a properly ordered list of numbers.
2
Identify the middle number in the sorted list.
The 3rd number is 1212.
Since there are 55 numbers (an odd amount), the median is exactly the middle value.

Key Concept

Median
Estimated Time:45s
Question 4Question →

A logistics manager is tracking the number of supply crates shipped each week. Over the first four weeks of a five-week period, the facility shipped 1313, 2727, 1818, and 2626 crates. How many crates must be shipped in the fifth week to achieve an average (mean) of 2424 crates per week for the entire five-week period?

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Answer: 3636

Answer

The facility must ship 3636 crates in the fifth week.
To find a missing value when the mean is known, first determine the total sum required. An average of 24 over 5 weeks means the total crates shipped must equal 120 (24 × 5). Since 84 crates were shipped in the first four weeks (13 + 27 + 18 + 26), 36 more crates are needed in the final week (120 - 84) to meet the goal.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Calculate the total number of crates needed for all 55 weeks.
24×5=12024 \times 5 = 120
The mean formula is (total sum) ÷ (number of values). Therefore, the required total sum is the target mean multiplied by the total number of weeks.
2
Calculate the sum of the crates shipped in the first 44 weeks.
13+27+18+26=8413 + 27 + 18 + 26 = 84
This determines how many crates have already been accounted for in the total.
3
Subtract the sum of the first 44 weeks from the target total to find the missing value.
120−84=36120 - 84 = 36
The difference between the required total and the current total is the value needed for the final week.

Key Concept

Solving for a Missing Data Point Given the Mean
Question 5Question →

A logistics officer is analyzing the fuel consumption of five transport trucks. The data for the first four trucks is 4545, 5252, 4848, and 5555 gallons. The fuel data for the fifth truck was lost, but the officer remembers that it consumed more fuel than any of the other four trucks. If the mean fuel consumption of all five trucks is exactly equal to their median, how many gallons of fuel did the fifth truck consume?

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Answer: 6060

Answer

The fifth truck consumed 6060 gallons of fuel.
Since the fifth truck consumed more fuel than the other four, the sorted order of the five values is 4545, 4848, 5252, 5555, and xx. The median of these five values is the third value, which is 5252. The problem states that the mean equals the median, so the equation is (45+48+52+55+x)/5=52(45 + 48 + 52 + 55 + x) / 5 = 52. Simplifying the numerator gives (200+x)/5=52(200 + x) / 5 = 52. Multiplying both sides by 55 results in 200+x=260200 + x = 260. Subtracting 200200 from both sides gives x=60x = 60.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Determine the median of the five values.
The median is 5252.
Since the fifth truck consumed the most fuel, let its consumption be xx. The sorted order of the five trucks is 4545, 4848, 5252, 5555, xx. The median of five ordered values is the third value.
2
Set up an equation for the mean.
Mean = (200+x)/5(200 + x) / 5
The mean is the sum of all five values (45+48+52+55+x=200+x45 + 48 + 52 + 55 + x = 200 + x) divided by the total number of trucks (55).
3
Equate the mean and the median to solve for xx.
(200+x)/5=52(200 + x) / 5 = 52
The problem states that the mean fuel consumption is exactly equal to the median.
4
Solve the algebraic equation.
x=60x = 60
Multiplying both sides by 55 gives 200+x=260200 + x = 260. Subtracting 200200 from both sides gives x=60x = 60.

Key Concept

Solving for an unknown data point by equating the mean and the median of an ordered dataset.
Question 6Question →

A logistics specialist is inventorying six shipping crates. The median weight of the crates is 4545 pounds, and the mode is 4040 pounds. The weights of five of the crates are 5050, 4040, 5555, 4242, and 4040 pounds. What is the weight of the sixth crate?

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Answer: 48

Answer

The weight of the sixth crate is 4848 pounds.
The correct answer is 4848. To find the missing weight, first arrange the known weights in ascending order: 4040, 4040, 4242, 5050, 5555. Since there are 66 crates in total, the median is the average of the 3rd and 4th values. Based on the known numbers, the 3rd value must be 4242 and the 4th value must be the unknown weight, xx (if xx were smaller or larger, the middle values would average to 4141 or 4646, not 4545). Setting up the equation: 42+x2=45\frac{42 + x}{2} = 45. Multiplying both sides by 22 gives 42+x=9042 + x = 90. Subtracting 4242 from both sides yields x=48x = 48. Adding 4848 to the set also ensures 4040 remains the mode.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Sort the known weights in ascending order.
4040, 4040, 4242, 5050, 5555
The median depends on the ordered numerical position of values in a data set.
2
Identify how the median is calculated for 66 items.
The median is the average of the 3rd and 4th items.
Because there is an even number of crates (66), there is no single middle value. The median is the mean of the two central numbers.
3
Determine the position of the missing value, xx.
The 3rd item must be 4242, and the 4th item must be xx.
If xx were smaller than 4242, the middle two numbers would be 4040 and 4242 (median 4141). If xx were 5050 or larger, the middle two numbers would be 4242 and 5050 (median 4646). To get a median of 4545, xx must be the 4th value.
4
Set up an equation for the median and solve for xx.
42+x2=45⇒42+x=90⇒x=48\frac{42 + x}{2} = 45 \Rightarrow 42 + x = 90 \Rightarrow x = 48
The average of the 3rd (4242) and 4th (xx) numbers must equal the given median (4545).
5
Verify that the mode remains 4040.
The final set is 4040, 4040, 4242, 4848, 5050, 5555. The number 4040 appears twice and is the most frequent.
Ensures all conditions stated in the problem are met.

Key Concept

Measures of Central Tendency (Median of an even-numbered data set)

Alternative Method

You can logically deduce the answer without full algebra: The median is exactly halfway between the two middle numbers. Since the median is 4545 and the lower middle number is 4242 (a distance of 33), the upper middle number must be exactly 33 units above 4545, which is 4848.
Estimated Time:2m 0s
Question 7Question →

Review the four distinct practical situations below. Pair each descriptive problem with its mathematically correct calculated result.

Click a left item, then click its matching right item

Items

A baker used 44, 88, 1111, and 1313 cups of sugar over four days. Determine the mean daily usage.
A delivery driver logged 55, 1212, 77, 1414, 99, and 1111 miles on six different routes. Find the median distance.
A retail shop sold hats in sizes 88, 66, 88, 1212, 66, 88, and 1515. Identify the mode.
A student earned scores of 66 and 1010 on two assignments. Find the score needed on the third assignment to achieve a mean of 99.

Matches

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Answer

The correct matches are: Mean usage is 99, median distance is 1010, mode size is 88, and the required assignment score is 1111.
Each statistical measure is calculated according to its definition: the mean is the sum divided by the count, the median is the middle value of an ordered list (or average of two middle values), the mode is the most frequent value, and a missing value can be found algebraically using the mean formula.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Determine the mean for the baker's sugar usage.
The sum is 3636, divided by 44 equals 99.
The arithmetic mean requires dividing the sum of all values by the total count of values.
2
Determine the median for the delivery driver's distances.
The sorted list is 5,7,9,11,12,145, 7, 9, 11, 12, 14. The average of the middle two values is (9+11)÷2=10(9 + 11) \div 2 = 10.
For an even number of data points, the median is the average of the two middle numbers in an ordered list.
3
Determine the mode for the hat sizes.
The mode is 88.
The mode is the value that appears most often in a dataset.
4
Calculate the missing assignment score.
The required score is 1111.
Using the algebraic formula for mean: (6+10+x)÷3=9(6 + 10 + x) \div 3 = 9, which simplifies to 16+x=2716 + x = 27.

Key Concept

Measures of central tendency (mean, median, mode) and using algebraic substitution to find a missing data point given a target mean.
Question 8Question →

Match each statistical scenario with its corresponding numerical value based on the principles of central tendency.

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Items

The median of the sequence 2x−12x-1, 2x+32x+3, 2x2x, 2x+52x+5, and 2x−42x-4, given x=6x=6.
The score required on a 6th assessment to raise an existing 5-assessment mean of 7474 to a new mean of 7676.
The arithmetic mean of the modes in the data set: 14,18,14,22,19,22,25,2114, 18, 14, 22, 19, 22, 25, 21.
The absolute difference between the mean and the median of the data set: 2,8,10,15,202, 8, 10, 15, 20.

Matches

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Answer

The algebraic sequence median is 12, the required 6th assessment score is 86, the mean of the modes is 18, and the difference between the mean and median is 1.
Each statistical scenario is solved by accurately applying the definitions and formulas for mean, median, and mode, as detailed in the matching explanations.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Calculate the median of the algebraic sequence by substituting x=6 and sorting the results.
The substituted values are 11, 15, 12, 17, and 8. Sorted, they are 8, 11, 12, 15, 17. The median is 12.
The median requires evaluating the expressions first, then sorting the data set from least to greatest to find the positional center.
2
Calculate the required 6th assessment score using the mean formula.
Target sum = 6 × 76 = 456. Current sum = 5 × 74 = 370. Required score = 456 - 370 = 86.
The mean is the total sum divided by the number of values. Manipulating this formula allows isolation of the missing value.
3
Identify the modes of the bimodal set and average them.
The modes are 14 and 22. Their mean is (14 + 22) / 2 = 18.
The mode is the most frequent value. This set has two modes. Their average is found by adding them and dividing by 2.
4
Find the absolute difference between the mean and median of the final set.
Sum = 55, Mean = 55 / 5 = 11. Median = 10. Difference = |11 - 10| = 1.
Comparing multiple measures of central tendency requires calculating each independently before finding their difference.

Key Concept

Measures of Central Tendency
Question 9Question →

A naval navigation team is evaluating different telemetry datasets. Match each statistical description to its correct calculated value.

Click a left item, then click its matching right item

Items

The median of the unsorted frequency readings (in GHz): 1111, 44, 1515, 77, 1818, and 99.
The required fifth reading to achieve a target mean of 1818 dB, given previous readings of 1414, 1616, 2020, and 1818.
The new mean if an outlier of 3434 is added to a dataset of 55 previous readings whose sum is 5050.
The mode of the recorded pulse widths (in ms): 2222, 1515, 1515, 2222, 1010, 1515, and 2828.

Matches

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Answer

The median is 10, the missing fifth reading is 22, the new mean is 14, and the mode is 15.
Each correct match applies the fundamental operations for finding the median of an even set, determining a missing value from a given mean, calculating a shifted mean, and identifying the mode.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Calculate the median of the frequency readings.
Sorted order: 4,7,9,11,15,184, 7, 9, 11, 15, 18. Median is 1010.
The median of an even-numbered dataset is the average of the two middle values after sorting.
2
Calculate the missing fifth reading.
Total required = 9090. Existing sum = 6868. Missing value = 2222.
To find a missing value for a target mean, multiply the target mean by the total number of items, then subtract the sum of existing items.
3
Calculate the new mean after adding an outlier.
New sum = 8484, new item count = 66. New mean = 1414.
A mean shifts when a new value is introduced; both the total sum and the total count of items must be updated.
4
Identify the mode of the pulse widths.
The mode is 1515.
The mode is simply the value with the highest frequency of occurrence.

Key Concept

Measures of Central Tendency
Question 10Question →

A culinary instructor is reviewing the final exam scores of six students to determine the middle performance level of the class. The scores recorded are 8484, 7272, 9090, 7676, 8888, and 6464. What is the median score of this group of students?

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Answer: 8080

Answer

The median score is 8080.
To find the median, the values must first be arranged in numerical order: 6464, 7272, 7676, 8484, 8888, 9090. Because there are six numbers (an even amount), the median is the average of the two central numbers, 7676 and 8484. Adding them together yields 160160, and dividing by 22 gives a median of 8080.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Sort the given scores from least to greatest.
6464, 7272, 7676, 8484, 8888, 9090
The median is the exact middle value of an ordered dataset, making sorting the mandatory first step.
2
Identify the middle value(s) of the sorted list.
The middle two values are 7676 and 8484.
Since there is an even number of data points (66), there is no single middle value. The median position falls exactly between the 3rd and 4th values.
3
Calculate the average of the two middle values.
76+842=1602=80\frac{76 + 84}{2} = \frac{160}{2} = 80
The median of a dataset with an even number of values is the arithmetic mean of the two central values.

Key Concept

Median of a Dataset with an Even Number of Values
Estimated Time:1m 0s
Question 11Question →

A maintenance chief is reviewing the repair times (in hours) for five generators: 88, 1212, 1515, 99, and 1616. A sixth generator's repair time is added to the records. If the median repair time for all six generators is exactly 11.511.5 hours, what is the repair time of the sixth generator?

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Answer: 1111

Answer

The repair time of the sixth generator is 1111 hours.
The correct answer is found by first sorting the existing times into ascending order: 8,9,12,15,168, 9, 12, 15, 16. Because there will be six total items, the median is calculated by averaging the 3rd and 4th values. The 3rd value is 1212, and the target median is given as 11.511.5. This sets up the equation (12+x)/2=11.5(12 + x) / 2 = 11.5. Multiplying both sides by 22 gives 12+x=2312 + x = 23. Subtracting 1212 from both sides reveals the 6th generator's time must be 1111 hours.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Sort the known repair times in ascending order.
8,9,12,15,168, 9, 12, 15, 16
The median depends on the ordered sequence of data, not the order in which it was recorded.
2
Determine how the median is calculated for a six-item data set.
The median will be the average of the 3rd and 4th values in the sorted list.
For an even number of data points, the median is exactly halfway between the two central numbers.
3
Set up an equation using the known middle value and the target median.
The current 3rd value is 1212. The 4th value will be the new time xx. Equation: 12+x2=11.5\frac{12 + x}{2} = 11.5
We know the final median must be 11.511.5, and 1212 is the existing middle value that must be paired with xx to achieve this average.
4
Solve the equation for xx.
12+x=2312 + x = 23, which simplifies to x=11x = 11.
Multiplying both sides by 22 and then subtracting 1212 isolates the unknown variable.

Key Concept

Measures of Central Tendency
Question 12Question →

A cybersecurity analyst is monitoring the number of unauthorized access attempts blocked by a firewall each day. The mean number of blocked attempts for the entire 55-day work week is exactly 3232. If the daily counts from Monday to Thursday were 2828, 3535, 2727, and 3434, how many access attempts were blocked on Friday?

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Answer: 36

Answer

The firewall blocked 36 access attempts on Friday.
The correct answer is found by determining the total sum required to achieve the target mean for 55 days (32×5=16032 \times 5 = 160), and then subtracting the sum of the four known days (124124) from that total. This yields a required value of 3636 for the final day.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Calculate the total sum of access attempts required for all 55 days.
32×5=16032 \times 5 = 160
The mean is equal to the total sum divided by the number of values. Therefore, the total sum is the mean multiplied by the number of values (NN).
2
Calculate the sum of the known access attempts from the first four days.
28+35+27+34=12428 + 35 + 27 + 34 = 124
We must determine the combined total of the known days before we can find the missing day's value.
3
Subtract the sum of the four days from the required 55-day total to find Friday's count.
160−124=36160 - 124 = 36
The difference between the overall required total and the sum of the known values represents the exact value needed for the final day.

Key Concept

Calculating a missing value from a data set when given the arithmetic mean and the remaining values.
Question 13Question →

A medical detachment is tracking a patient's resting heart rate over a six-day period. The mean heart rate over the six days is 6969 beats per minute (bpm). The readings for five of those days are 6666, 7272, 6868, 7878, and 6565. What is the median heart rate for the entire six-day period?

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Answer: 67

Answer

67
The correct answer is derived in two phases. First, the missing sixth value is found by subtracting the sum of the five known values (349) from the total sum of all six values (69 * 6 = 414), which yields 65. Second, all six values are sorted from least to greatest: 65, 65, 66, 68, 72, 78. Since there are 6 values, the median is the exact average of the two middle numbers (66 and 68). (66 + 68) / 2 = 67 bpm.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Calculate the total sum of the heart rates for all six days.
414414
The total sum is required to find the value of the missing sixth day. Multiply the given mean (6969) by the total number of days (66).
2
Calculate the sum of the five known heart rates.
349349
Adding the given values (66+72+68+78+6566 + 72 + 68 + 78 + 65) allows us to see how much of the total sum is accounted for.
3
Determine the heart rate for the sixth day.
6565
Subtracting the sum of the known days (349349) from the total sum (414414) reveals the missing data point.
4
Arrange all six heart rates in ascending order.
65,65,66,68,72,7865, 65, 66, 68, 72, 78
The median is a measure of position, which strictly requires the entire dataset to be ordered from least to greatest.
5
Identify the two middle values and calculate their average.
6767
Because there is an even number of values (n=6n=6), the median is the mean of the 3rd and 4th values: (66+68)/2(66 + 68) / 2.

Key Concept

Solving for a missing data value using the arithmetic mean, followed by determining the median of an even-numbered dataset.
Question 14Question →

An environmental scientist measures the daily water flow (in gallons per minute) from a natural spring over five days. The recorded values are 2222, 1818, 2525, 2020, and 1717. If the scientist needs the average (mean) flow rate across a full six-day period to be exactly 2121 gallons per minute, what must the flow rate be on the sixth day?

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Answer: 2424

Answer

2424
To find the missing value for the sixth day, first determine the total sum required for all six days. Since the target mean is 2121, the required total sum is 21×6=12621 \times 6 = 126. Next, find the sum of the five days already recorded: 22+18+25+20+17=10222 + 18 + 25 + 20 + 17 = 102. The required flow rate for the sixth day is the difference between these two sums: 126−102=24126 - 102 = 24.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Calculate the sum of the water flow for the first five days.
22+18+25+20+17=10222 + 18 + 25 + 20 + 17 = 102
This establishes how much total water flow has already been recorded.
2
Calculate the required total sum for the full six days to achieve the target mean.
21×6=12621 \times 6 = 126
The formula for the mean is Total Sum divided by the Number of Values. Therefore, Total Sum = Mean × Number of Values.
3
Subtract the sum of the first five days from the target total sum.
126−102=24126 - 102 = 24
The difference between the target six-day total and the current five-day total gives the required value for the sixth day.

Key Concept

Calculating a missing data point in a set when the target arithmetic mean is provided.
Question 15Question →

A logistics officer is analyzing data from various base operations. Match each statistical description on the left with its correctly calculated value on the right.

Click a left item, then click its matching right item

Items

The mean weight, in pounds, of five crates weighing 4545, 6060, 5555, 4040, and 5050.
The median of six daily supply requests recorded as 1212, 1818, 1414, 2222, 1515, and 2020.
The target value needed as a fifth shipment to achieve a mean of 2525, given prior shipments of 2020, 2424, 2828, and 2222.
The mode of vehicle repair times, in hours, logged as 44, 33, 66, 44, 55, 88, and 44.

Matches

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Answer

The mean crate weight matches with 50, the median supply request matches with 16.5, the missing shipment for a target mean matches with 31, and the mode of repair times matches with 4.
Each pairing correctly applies the fundamental rules of mean, median, mode, and algebraic representation of statistical targets. The calculations strictly follow the rules for measures of central tendency.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Calculate the mean for the first description.
(45+60+55+40+50)/5=50(45 + 60 + 55 + 40 + 50) / 5 = 50
The mean is the arithmetic average of a data set.
2
Calculate the median for the second description.
Sorted list: 12,14,15,18,20,2212, 14, 15, 18, 20, 22. Average of middle two: (15+18)/2=16.5(15 + 18) / 2 = 16.5
The median is the middle value of an ordered set, or the average of the two middle values for an even number of items.
3
Calculate the missing value for the third description.
125−(20+24+28+22)=31125 - (20 + 24 + 28 + 22) = 31
The sum of all values must equal the target mean multiplied by the total number of values.
4
Identify the mode for the fourth description.
The number 44 appears three times.
The mode is the most frequent value in a data set.

Key Concept

Measures of Central Tendency
Question 16Question →

An artillery spotter is recording the impact distances (in meters) from a target center for five test rounds. The distances are 3434, 4141, 2828, 5252, and 4040. A sixth round is fired. If the mean distance for all six rounds is exactly 4141 meters, what was the impact distance of the sixth round?

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Answer: 5151

Answer

The correct impact distance of the sixth round is 5151 meters.
To find a missing value when the mean is known, you must work backward using the total sum. Since the mean of 66 rounds is 4141, their total sum must be 41×6=24641 \times 6 = 246. The sum of the first five rounds is 195195. Subtracting the current sum from the required total sum (246−195246 - 195) reveals that the sixth round must be 5151.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Calculate the required sum of the distances for all six rounds.
41×6=24641 \times 6 = 246
The mean of a data set is its total sum divided by the number of items. To find the required total sum, multiply the target mean (4141) by the total number of rounds (66).
2
Calculate the sum of the distances for the first five rounds.
34+41+28+52+40=19534 + 41 + 28 + 52 + 40 = 195
This establishes the total distance that has already been accounted for by the initial test rounds.
3
Subtract the sum of the first five rounds from the required total sum to find the sixth round.
246−195=51246 - 195 = 51
The difference between the total needed for all six rounds and the total already recorded gives the exact value required for the final round.

Key Concept

Solving for a missing value given a target mean
Question 17Question →

A structural mechanic is testing the tensile strength of a batch of aluminum rivets. The mean tensile strength of the first 44 rivets tested is 410410 MPa. If the quality standard requires the mean strength of 55 rivets to be exactly 415415 MPa, what tensile strength must the 55 th rivet have?

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Answer: 435

Answer

The 5th rivet must have a tensile strength of 435 MPa.
The correct answer is derived by finding the total required sum for 5 rivets (2075) and subtracting the existing sum of the first 4 rivets (1640).

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Calculate the total tensile strength of the first 4 rivets.
1640 MPa
The sum of a data set is equal to its mean multiplied by the number of values.
2
Calculate the required total tensile strength for all 5 rivets.
2075 MPa
To achieve a target mean of 415 MPa with 5 items, the overall sum must equal the new mean multiplied by the new count.
3
Find the difference between the target total and the current total.
435 MPa
Subtracting the sum of the first 4 items from the required sum of all 5 items isolates the value needed for the 5th item.

Key Concept

Calculating a missing data value given an initial mean and a target mean.

Alternative Method

Use the deviation method: The first 4 rivets have a mean of 410 MPa, which is 5 MPa below the target mean of 415 MPa. This creates a total deficit of 4 × 5 = 20 MPa. The 5th rivet must provide enough strength to cover its own requirement (415 MPa) plus the 20 MPa deficit from the others. Therefore, 415 + 20 = 435 MPa.
Estimated Time:1m 0s
Question 18Question →

A quartermaster is recording the number of uniform items issued per day over an 88-day period. The recorded numbers are 2424, 1919, 2828, 1717, 3333, 1616, 2020, and 2727. What is the median number of uniform items issued?

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Answer: 22

Answer

The median number of uniform items issued is 22.
The correct answer accurately sorts the dataset into numerical order (16,17,19,20,24,27,28,3316, 17, 19, 20, 24, 27, 28, 33) and calculates the average of the two middlemost numbers, 2020 and 2424, which results in 2222.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Sort the recorded numbers in ascending numerical order.
The sorted list is: 16,17,19,20,24,27,28,3316, 17, 19, 20, 24, 27, 28, 33.
The median is the middle value of an ordered dataset, so ordering is always the first step.
2
Identify the middle value(s).
Since there are 88 data points (an even number), there are two middle values: the 4th and 5th numbers, which are 2020 and 2424.
An even number of data points does not have a single exact middle number.
3
Calculate the average (mean) of the two middle values.
20+242=442=22\frac{20 + 24}{2} = \frac{44}{2} = 22
The median for an even number of data points is found by taking the mean of the two middlemost values.

Key Concept

To find the median of a dataset with an even number of values, the data must first be ordered from least to greatest, and then the mean of the two central values must be calculated.
Question 19Question →

A damage control officer is reviewing the completion times (in minutes) for various emergency response drills. Match each statistical description on the left with its correctly calculated value on the right.

Click a left item, then click its matching right item

Items

Mean of the drill times 12,18,15,11,12, 18, 15, 11, and 1414 minutes
Median of the drill times 9,14,8,13,16,9, 14, 8, 13, 16, and 1212 minutes
Mode of the drill times 10,15,12,10,18,10,10, 15, 12, 10, 18, 10, and 1414 minutes
Fourth drill time needed to achieve a mean of 1515 minutes, if the first three times are 16,12,16, 12, and 1414 minutes

Matches

Show answer & explanation

Answer

Mean pairs with 14; Median pairs with 12.5; Mode pairs with 10; Missing drill time pairs with 18.
Each statistical operation maps strictly to one correct outcome. Calculating the arithmetic mean gives 14, evaluating the sorted middle yields 12.5, counting frequencies identifies 10 as the mode, and algebraic substitution for a target mean resolves to 18.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Calculate the mean of the first data set.
12+18+15+11+14=7012 + 18 + 15 + 11 + 14 = 70. 70÷5=1470 \div 5 = 14.
The mean requires summing all given values and dividing by the count of the values.
2
Calculate the median of the second data set.
Sorted list: 8,9,12,13,14,168, 9, 12, 13, 14, 16. The median is (12+13)÷2=12.5(12 + 13) \div 2 = 12.5.
The median is the exact middle value. For an even number of data points, it is the average of the two middle numbers in a sorted list.
3
Identify the mode of the third data set.
The number 1010 appears three times, which is more than any other number.
The mode is the value that occurs most frequently in the distribution.
4
Calculate the missing value for the fourth scenario.
Total needed: 15×4=6015 \times 4 = 60. Current sum: 16+12+14=4216 + 12 + 14 = 42. Missing value: 60−42=1860 - 42 = 18.
To achieve a specific mean, the total sum must equal the mean multiplied by the number of events. Subtracting known events yields the missing event.

Key Concept

Measures of Central Tendency

Alternative Method

To find the missing drill time for a target mean of 15, you can use the deviation method: 16 is (+1), 12 is (-3), and 14 is (-1). The sum of these deviations is -3. To balance the average, the missing value must counteract this with an opposite deviation of +3. Therefore, the missing value is 15 + 3 = 18.
Estimated Time:1m 30s
Question 20Question →

A flight engineer is monitoring the fuel consumption, in gallons per hour (GPH), of a cargo aircraft during 44 different flight legs. The consumption for the first 33 legs was 520520, 480480, and 550550 GPH.

If the target mean fuel consumption for all 44 legs is 510510 GPH, what must the fuel consumption be for the 44 th leg?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: 490

Answer

490
To find the missing value when given the mean, first determine the total sum required for all data points. Since the mean for 44 legs is 510510 GPH, the total fuel consumption must be 4×510=20404 \times 510 = 2040 GPH. The sum of the first three legs is 520+480+550=1550520 + 480 + 550 = 1550 GPH. Subtracting this sum from the required total gives the fuel consumption required for the fourth leg: 2040−1550=4902040 - 1550 = 490 GPH.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Set up the formula for the mean of 44 flight legs.
520+480+550+x4=510\frac{520 + 480 + 550 + x}{4} = 510
The mean is calculated by dividing the sum of all values by the total number of values.
2
Calculate the total target fuel consumption required for all 44 legs.
510×4=2040510 \times 4 = 2040
Multiplying the target mean by the total number of legs gives the required overall sum.
3
Calculate the sum of the fuel consumption for the first 33 legs.
520+480+550=1550520 + 480 + 550 = 1550
This represents the total fuel consumed so far.
4
Subtract the sum of the first 33 legs from the total target consumption to find the missing value.
2040−1550=4902040 - 1550 = 490
The difference between the required total and the current total must be the consumption of the 44 th leg.

Key Concept

Calculating a missing value when given the mean
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