A data set contains 3, 7, 7, 2, 9. Compute the mean, median, and mode.

A data set contains 3, 7, 7, 2, 9. Compute the mean, median, and mode.

• A. Mean 5.6; Median 7; Mode 7
• B. Mean 5.0; Median 7; Mode 9
• C. Mean 6.0; Median 6; Mode 7
• D. Mean 5.6; Median 6; Mode 7

Answer: (A)

We’re looking at three measures of center: mean, median, and mode. Arrange the data: 2, 3, 7, 7, 9. The mean is the average, so add them up (2 + 3 + 7 + 7 + 9 = 28) and divide by the number of values (5), giving 28/5 = 5.6. The median is the middle value in the ordered list, and with five numbers the third value is the middle one, which is 7. The mode is the value that appears most often; here 7 appears twice while the others appear once, so the mode is 7. Therefore, mean 5.6; median 7; mode 7.

We’re looking at three measures of center: mean, median, and mode. Arrange the data: 2, 3, 7, 7, 9. The mean is the average, so add them up (2 + 3 + 7 + 7 + 9 = 28) and divide by the number of values (5), giving 28/5 = 5.6. The median is the middle value in the ordered list, and with five numbers the third value is the middle one, which is 7. The mode is the value that appears most often; here 7 appears twice while the others appear once, so the mode is 7. Therefore, mean 5.6; median 7; mode 7.