IXL | Calculate mean absolute deviation

In the data set below, what is the mean absolute deviation?

If the answer is a decimal, round it to the nearest tenth.

mean absolute deviation (MAD):

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question

In the data set below, what is the mean absolute deviation?

If the answer is a decimal, round it to the nearest tenth.

mean absolute deviation (MAD):

key idea

The mean absolute deviation (MAD) is a measure of how much a data set varies.

solution

Step
1:
Compute
the
mean,
μ
.

First add all of the numbers in the data set together. Then divide by the total number of values in the data set.

7 + 4 + 2 + 4 + 9 + 7

5.5

The
mean,
μ
,
is
5.5.

Step 2: Compute the mean absolute deviation, MAD.

Take each number in the data set, subtract the mean, and take the absolute value. Then take the sum of the absolute values.

|7 − 5.5| + |4 − 5.5| + ... + |7 − 5.5| = 13

Now compute the mean absolute deviation by dividing the sum above by the total number of values in the data set.

MAD

≈

2.16666

Finally, round to the nearest tenth.

2.16666 → 2.2

To the nearest tenth, the mean absolute deviation, MAD, is 2.2.

Looking for more? Try these:

Lesson: Mean absolute deviation

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HH.1Calculate mean, median, mode, and range

Lesson: Mean absolute deviation

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