Mean or Median

Have students discuss the choices they made in Question 22C with a partner. They must defend their choice of median or mean as the average that best represents the data using logical arguments and what they know about averages. Students will have to make similar decisions in the next lesson in the lab Spreading Out. The data in this question refers to the lab Distance vs. Time. For one distance, a group recorded times of 10 seconds, 3 seconds, and 5 seconds. In this case, the median of 5 seconds better represents the data since it is not affected by the extreme value of 10 seconds. Alternatively, students can choose to throw out 10 seconds and find the average of the two remaining values. The best alternative is to collect more data.