Mathematical Skills Flashcards
What is the mean?
The mean is a measure of central tendency. It shows the average or expected value in a set of data
What is a strength of the mean?
Easy to calculate mathematically, gives a precise value, and useful for statistical tests
What is a strength of the mean?
Easy to calculate mathematically, gives a precise value, and useful for statistical tests
What is a weakness of the mean?
Can be affected by outliers, can give a value not originally in the data set
What is median?
The middle value in a set of data that is organised by increasing value
What is the strength of the median?
Not affected by outliers, will always give a value originally in the data set
What is the weakness of the median?
Not a useful as other statistical test, required sorted and ordered data
What is the mode?
Provides the most frequent or common value in a data set
What is the strengths of the mode?
A useful way of calculating the average when the data is nominal
What is the weaknesses of the mode?
There may be multiple modes, there may not be a mode at all, the mode may not represent the spread of the data in an accurate way
What is the range?
A measure of dispersion - the difference between the highest and lowest value in a set of data
What are the strengths of the range?
Easy to calculate and gives a good idea of the spread of data
What are the weaknesses of the range?
Is affected by outliers and is not useful for other statistical calculations
How do you calculate the variance?
Calculate the mean, subtract the mean from every value in the table (the new value is called d), square each value of d, add up each value of d squared, divide this number by the amount of numbers of values in the table
How do you calculate the standard deviation?
Follow the exact same steps as the variance, at the end square rot your answer to get the standard deviation.
