Calculate the mean absolutee deviation (MAD) MAD= 2+3+4+4+4+5+5+6+6+6+7+8

Question

I am im 7th grade and this is what we are doing in class. I have tried multiple times and the MAD does not make sense.

Answer 1

Your data should not be separated by plus symbols. It is just:

2

3

4

4

4

5

5

6

6

6

7

8

To get the MAD, first find the median (or average)( which you get by adding the numbers up and dividing by the number of numbers:

The sum of all the numbers is 60 and there are 12 numbers so the mean is 60/12 = 5

Now, set up a table and subtract each number and 5 but put the biggest number first:

2: 5 - 2 = 3

3: 5 - 3 = 2

4: 5 - 4 = 1

4: 5 - 4 = 1

4: 5 - 4 = 1

5: 5 - 5 = 0

5: 5 - 5 = 0

6: 6 - 5 = 1

6: 6 - 5 = 1

6: 6 - 5 = 1

7: 7 - 5 = 2

8: 8 - 5 = 3

Now add up all the answers: 3 + 2 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 0 + 0 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 2 + 3 = 16

Now, divide the total by the number of numbers: 16/12 = 4/3

So the MAD = 4/3