Skip to ContentGo to accessibility pageKeyboard shortcuts menu

OpenStax Logo
Log in
Loaded page 2.6 Skewness and the Mean, Median, and Mode - Statistics | OpenStax
Statistics
2.6 Skewness and the Mean, Median, and Mode
Statistics2.6 Skewness and the Mean, Median, and Mode
Search this book

Contents

Highlights
Table of contents

Preface
1
Sampling and Data
2
Descriptive Statistics
Introduction
2.1
Stem-and-Leaf Graphs (Stemplots), Line Graphs, and Bar Graphs
2.2
Histograms, Frequency Polygons, and Time Series Graphs
2.3
Measures of the Location of the Data
2.4
Box Plots
2.5
Measures of the Center of the Data
2.6
Skewness and the Mean, Median, and Mode
2.7
Measures of the Spread of the Data
2.8
Descriptive Statistics
Key Terms
Chapter Review
Formula Review
Practice
Homework
Bringing It Together: Homework
References
Solutions
3
Probability Topics
Introduction
3.1
Terminology
3.2
Independent and Mutually Exclusive Events
3.3
Two Basic Rules of Probability
3.4
Contingency Tables
3.5
Tree and Venn Diagrams
3.6
Probability Topics
Key Terms
Chapter Review
Formula Review
Practice
Bringing It Together: Practice
Homework
Bringing It Together: Homework
References
Solutions
4
Discrete Random Variables
5
Continuous Random Variables
6
The Normal Distribution
7
The Central Limit Theorem
8
Confidence Intervals
9
Hypothesis Testing with One Sample
10
Hypothesis Testing with Two Samples
11
The Chi-Square Distribution
Introduction
11.1
Facts About the Chi-Square Distribution
11.2
Goodness-of-Fit Test
11.3
Test of Independence
11.4
Test for Homogeneity
11.5
Comparison of the Chi-Square Tests
11.6
Test of a Single Variance
11.7
Lab 1: Chi-Square Goodness-of-Fit
11.8
Lab 2: Chi-Square Test of Independence
Key Terms
Chapter Review
Formula Review
Practice
Homework
Bringing It Together: Homework
References
Solutions
12
Linear Regression and Correlation
13
F Distribution and One-way Anova
A
|
Appendix A Review Exercises (Ch 3–13)
B
|
Appendix B Practice Tests (1–4) and Final Exams
C
|
Data Sets
D
|
Group and Partner Projects
E
|
Solution Sheets
F
|
Mathematical Phrases, Symbols, and Formulas
G
|
Notes for the TI-83, 83+, 84, 84+ Calculators
H
|
Tables
Index
Search for key terms or text.
Consider the following data set:
4, 5, 6, 6, 6, 7, 7, 7, 7, 7, 7, 8, 8, 8, 9, 10

This data set can be represented by the following histogram. Each interval has width 1, and each value is
located in the middle of an interval.

This histogram matches the supplied data. It consists of 7 adjacent bars with the x-axis split into intervals
of 1 from 4 to 10. The heighs of the bars peak in the middle and taper symmetrically to the right and left.
Figure 2.18
The histogram displays a symmetrical distribution of data. A distribution is symmetrical if a vertical line
can be drawn at some point in the histogram such that the shape to the left and the right of the vertical
line are mirror images of each other. The mean, the median, and the mode are each seven for these data.
In a perfectly symmetrical distribution, the mean and the median are the same. This example has one
mode (unimodal), and the mode is the same as the mean and median. In a symmetrical distribution that
has two modes (bimodal), the two modes would be different from the mean and median.

The histogram for the data: 4, 5, 6, 6, 6, 7, 7, 7, 7, 8 is not symmetrical. The right-hand side seems
chopped off compared to the left-hand side. A distribution of this type is called skewed to the left because
it is pulled out to the left. A skewed left distribution has more high values.

This histogram matches the supplied data. It consists of 5 adjacent bars with the x-axis split into intervals
of 1 from 4 to 8. The peak is to the right, and the heights of the bars taper down to the left.
Figure 2.19
The mean is 6.3, the median is 6.5, and the mode is seven. Notice that the mean is less than the median,
and they are both less than the mode. The mean and the median both reflect the skewing, but the mean
reflects it more so. The mean is pulled toward the tail in a skewed distribution.

The histogram for the data: 6, 7, 7, 7, 7, 8, 8, 8, 9, 10 is also not symmetrical. It is skewed to the right. A
skewed right distribution has more low values.

This histogram matches the supplied data. It consists of 5 adjacent bars with the x-axis split into intervals
of 1 from 6 to 10. The peak is to the left, and the heights of the bars taper down to the right.
Figure 2.20
The mean is 7.7, the median is 7.5, and the mode is seven. Of the three statistics, the mean is the largest,
while the mode is the smallest. Again, the mean reflects the skewing the most.

To summarize, generally if the distribution of data is skewed to the left, the mean is less than the median,
which is often less than the mode. If the distribution of data is skewed to the right, the mode is often less
than the median, which is less than the mean.

Skewness and symmetry become important when we discuss probability distributions in later chapters.

Example 2.32
Problem
Statistics are used to compare and sometimes identify authors. The following lists show a simple random
sample that compares the letter counts for three authors.

Terry: 7, 9, 3, 3, 3, 4, 1, 3, 2, 2

Davis: 3, 3, 3, 4, 1, 4, 3, 2, 3, 1
Maris: 2, 3, 4, 4, 4, 6, 6, 6, 8, 3

Make a dot plot for the three authors and compare the shapes.
Calculate the mean for each.
Calculate the median for each.
Describe any pattern you notice between the shape and the measures of center.
Try It 2.32
Discuss the mean, median, and mode for each of the following problems. Is there a pattern between the
shape and measure of the center?

a.

This dot plot matches the supplied data. The plot uses a number line from 0 to 14. It shows two x's over
0, four x's over 1, three x's over 2, one x over 3, two x's over the number 4, 5, 6, and 9, and 1 x each over
10 and 14. There are no x's over the numbers 7, 8, 11, 12, and 13.
Figure 2.24
b.

The Ages at Which Former U.S. Presidents Died

This is a histogram titled Hours Spent Playing Video Games on Weekends. The x-axis shows the number of
hours spent playing video games with bars showing values at intervals of 5. The y-axis shows the number
of students. The first bar for 0 - 4.99 hours has a height of 2. The second bar from 5 - 9.99 has a height of
3. The third bar from 10 - 14.99 has a height of 4. The fourth bar from 15 - 19.99 has a height of 7. The
fifth bar from 20 - 24.99 has a height of 9.
Figure 2.25
Previous
Next
Order a print copy
Citation/Attribution
Our mission is to improve educational access and learning for everyone.
OpenStax is part of Rice University, which is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Give today and help us reach more
students.
Help
Contact Us
Support Center
FAQ
OpenStax
Press
Newsletter
Careers
Policies
Accessibility Statement
Terms of Use
Licensing
Privacy Policy
Manage Cookies
© 1999-2025, Rice University. Except where otherwise noted, textbooks on this site are licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Advanced Placement® and AP® are trademarks registered and/or owned by the College Board, which is
not affiliated with, and does not endorse, this site.
Rice University logo