A Meaningful Discussion About Central Tendency

A MEANingful Discussion about Central Tendency Independent Practice

Identify whether or not it is appropriate to have an average for the following types of data sets:

1. Average age of students in the classroom (yes)

2. Average student ID number of students enrolled in math class (no)

3. Average height of students at the school (yes)

4. Average area code of Florida residents (no)

Select five classmates and list their zip code. Then calculate the “average” zip code, which they will be able to do. Then they will be asked what the meaning of the average zip code is and whether it makes sense to calculate this. (It is possible to calculate the average zip code but it is meaningless. Zip code is a number which represents a geographical area. Therefore, the variable “zip code” is categorical. Only quantitative data makes sense to average. )

Name types of data (such as zip code and area code) that are numerical, but do not make sense to average.