FRAME 47.
Third, the mean, median and mode all lie at the center of the normal distribution. The mean is
an arithmetic average that is computed from all the values, and reasonably lies in the middle. The
median divides the distribution into two equal parts: half greater, half smaller than the median.
The mode is the most frequently occurring observation. By symmetry (the first characteristic)
half the observations must lie on either side of the mean. So the mean, and the median are the
same. The height of the curve at any point is the frequency (number of occurrences), so the
mode must occur at the highest point on the curve. This must be the point that divides the curve
into two equal parts. So the mean, median, and mode all lie at the same place - the center - of
the normal curve.
QUESTION:
A. If the curve was not normal, which measure of central tendency would indicate the highest
point? _______________________________
B. If the curve was not normal, which measure of central tendency would divide the area
under
the curve in half? _________________________
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