Unit 5 Contents

17. When Rita, a new Girl Scout leader, was introduced to her group of girls, she asked them how old they were. Keenya, Shannon, Ana, Grace, and Maya all said they were 10 years old.
1. What one number can be used to describe the age of the girls?
2. What is the median age for this group of Girl Scouts?
3. What is the mean?

18. How are the median and mean alike? (Hint: What do they tell us?)
19. How are the two kinds of averages different? (Hint: How do you find each one?)
20. Which average is easier to find?

Check-In: Question 21

21. Jackie rolled a toy car down a ramp and measured the distance it rolled. The first time it rolled 13 cm, the second time it rolled 14 cm, and the third time it rolled 18 cm.

1. Use cubes to find the median distance the car rolled.
2. Use cubes to find the mean.
3. Which number, the mean or the median, better describes the distance the car typically rolls? Explain your answer.
4. Jackie's brother, Derrick, rolled another toy car down the same ramp three times. His car rolled 13 cm the first time, 19 cm the second time, and 17 cm the third time. If Jackie and Derrick rolled their cars down the same ramp side-by-side, predict which car would roll a greater distance. Explain how you made your prediction.