For the data set 2, 4, 4, 6, 8, which statement about the mean, median, and mode is true?

For the data set 2, 4, 4, 6, 8, which statement about the mean, median, and mode is true?

• A. Mean 4.8; Median 4; Mode 4.
• B. Mean 4; Median 4; Mode 5.
• C. Mean 3.9; Median 4; Mode 2.
• D. Mean 6.0; Median 5; Mode 4.

Answer: (A)

This question tests how mean, median, and mode describe a small data set. Compute the mean by summing all values and dividing by how many there are: 2 + 4 + 4 + 6 + 8 = 24, and 24 divided by 5 gives 4.8. For the median, arrange the data in order (they’re already sorted) and pick the middle value; with five numbers, the middle one is the third, which is 4. The mode is the value that occurs most often; here 4 appears twice while the others appear once, so the mode is 4. Therefore the correct statement is mean 4.8, median 4, and mode 4. The other statements don’t fit because they assign a different mean or a different most frequent value.

This question tests how mean, median, and mode describe a small data set. Compute the mean by summing all values and dividing by how many there are: 2 + 4 + 4 + 6 + 8 = 24, and 24 divided by 5 gives 4.8. For the median, arrange the data in order (they’re already sorted) and pick the middle value; with five numbers, the middle one is the third, which is 4. The mode is the value that occurs most often; here 4 appears twice while the others appear once, so the mode is 4. Therefore the correct statement is mean 4.8, median 4, and mode 4. The other statements don’t fit because they assign a different mean or a different most frequent value.