sat suite question viewer
Data set X: , , ,
Data set Y: , , , ,
The lists give the values in data sets X and Y. Which statement correctly compares the mean of data set X and the mean of data set Y?
Explanation
Choice B is correct. ββThe mean of a data set is the sum of the values in the data set divided by the number of values in the data set. It follows that the mean of data set X is , or , and the mean of data set Y is , or . Since is less than , the mean of data set X is less than the mean of data set Y.
Alternate approach: Data set Y consists of the values in data set X and one additional value, . Since the additional value, , is larger than any value in data set X, the mean of data set X is less than the mean of data set Y.
Choice A is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.
Choice C is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.
Choice D is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.