To summarize a set of sample data properly, we need only the sample mean. true or false?

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To summarize a set of sample data properly, we need only the sample mean. true or false?

2006-07-27 13:47:19 · 2 answers · asked by One Sexy Chic 5 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Other - Science

2 answers

False. You need the mean, standard deviation (or variance) and form of the statistical distribution (e.g.gaussian).

2006-07-27 14:05:51 · answer #1 · answered by gp4rts 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋

It depends what you're looking for. The mean definately won't help you alone. The mean is the average! Having just one piece of data that is way bigger than the rest could totally screw up the average and give you a false impression of how things are. How about looking for the median (the middle of the data)? The standard deviation isn't a bad idea either.

2006-07-28 01:30:26 · answer #2 · answered by earthchick 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋