FTCE Professional Education Practice Exam

What advantage does the median have over the mean?

1. It reflects all values equally

2. It is unaffected by outliers

3. It is easier to calculate

4. It provides a wider range of data

The correct answer is: It is unaffected by outliers

The median is considered advantageous over the mean primarily because it is unaffected by outliers. The median is the middle value of a data set when the numbers are arranged in ascending or descending order, which means that extreme values (outliers) have no impact on its position. For example, in a data set where most values are clustered closely together but there is one very high or very low value, the mean can be significantly skewed, potentially misrepresenting the typical value of the data set. The median effectively provides a better measure of central tendency in such scenarios, as it remains stable despite the presence of outliers. In contrast, the mean takes all values into account and can be heavily influenced by extreme values, which can distort the true center of the data distribution. Therefore, for skewed data sets or those with outliers, the median offers a more accurate reflection of the central tendency.