Big Ideas Math Integrated I, 2016
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Big Ideas Math Integrated I, 2016 View details
Chapter Test
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Exercise 1 Page 373

Which measures of center and variation should we use when the distribution of the data is symmetric?

Distribution: Symmetric
Measures: Use the mean to describe the center and the standard deviation to describe the variation.

Practice makes perfect
Consider the given histogram.
Histogram

We are asked to describe the distribution of the data and determine which measures of center and variation best represent the data. Since the data on the right of the distribution is approximately a mirror image of the data on the left, the distribution is symmetric. Therefore, we should use the mean to describe the center and the standard deviation to describe the variation.