Question

The length of ribbons found at a seamstress are listed.

3, 11, 11, 13, 13, 21

What is the appropriate measure of variability for the data shown, and what is its value?

The mean is the best measure of variability and equals 11.
The median is the best measure of variability and equals 11.5.
The range is the best measure of variability and equals 18.
The IQR is the best measure of variability and equals 2.

Answer 1

The appropriate measure of variability for the given data is the range, which is the difference between the maximum and minimum values in the dataset. In this case, the range is calculated as 21 - 3 = 18. The range provides a straightforward and intuitive measure of how spread out the data is. The other options (mean, median, and IQR) are measures of central tendency or spread and may not capture the full range of variability in this dataset. Therefore, the correct answer is C. The range is the best measure of variability, and its value is 18.