Question 16·Easy·One-Variable Data Distributions; Measures of Center and Spread
The table below shows the high and low temperatures in Houston, Texas, during a five-day period.
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High temperature (°F) | 73 | 56 | 62 | 75 | 81 |
| Low temperature (°F) | 49 | 37 | 41 | 54 | 63 |
What was the mean low temperature, in degrees Fahrenheit, during the five-day period?
For table-and-average questions, first underline exactly which values you need (for example, only the low temperatures). Ignore all other numbers so you do not accidentally mix data. Then compute the mean by adding those values and dividing by how many there are, taking care not to confuse the mean with other statistics like the median. When answer choices are close, do the exact arithmetic (or quickly check with a calculator) instead of estimating.
Hints
Focus on the correct row
The question asks about low temperatures. Which row in the table should you use, and which row should you ignore?
Recall how to find a mean
To find a mean (average), what two steps do you always do with the data values?
Apply the mean formula carefully
After adding all five low temperatures, remember to divide by how many days are in the table, not by any other number.
Desmos Guide
Use Desmos to compute the mean
In Desmos, type the expression (49 + 37 + 41 + 54 + 63) / 5 and look at the numeric result it gives; that value is the mean low temperature.
Step-by-step Explanation
Identify the correct data to use
The question asks for the mean low temperature, so focus only on the numbers in the Low temperature (°F) row:
- Monday: 49
- Tuesday: 37
- Wednesday: 41
- Thursday: 54
- Friday: 63
You will use just these five numbers to calculate the mean.
Add the low temperatures
Add all five low temperatures together:
So, the sum of the low temperatures is 244 degrees Fahrenheit.
Divide the total by the number of days
There are 5 days in the table. To find the mean, divide the total by 5:
So, the mean low temperature over the five-day period is 48.8 degrees Fahrenheit, which corresponds to answer choice D.