Question

The average height of a basketball player for the WNBA is 72 inches tall, and the median height is 5'11". The average height of a basketball player for the NBA is 79 inches tall, and the median height is 6'7". Which is larger, the difference in average heights or the difference in median heights, and why?

Answer 1

The difference in the median is 8 inches, therefore it is higher than the difference in the mean which is 7 inches.

Explanation:

In order to solve this question we first need to calculate the difference between the median and the average on both leagues. We have:

mean dif = mean NBA - mean WNBA

mean dif = 79 - 72 = 7 inches

median dif = median NBA - median WNBA

median dif = 6'7'' - 5'11" = (6*12 + 7") - (5*12 + 11") = 79" - 71" = 8 inches

The difference in the median is 8 inches, therefore it is higher than the difference in the mean which is 7 inches.