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    Question

    In descriptive statistics, what is the main advantage of

    using the median over the mean as a measure of central tendency in data analysis?
    A Median is always easier to calculate than mean Correct Answer Incorrect Answer
    B Median is unaffected by outliers, making it more reliable for skewed distributions Correct Answer Incorrect Answer
    C Median is a more precise measure in all datasets Correct Answer Incorrect Answer
    D Median accounts for all data points equally, unlike the mean Correct Answer Incorrect Answer
    E Median changes based on extreme values in the dataset Correct Answer Incorrect Answer

    Solution

    The median is often preferred over the mean in cases where the data is skewed or contains outliers. Unlike the mean, which can be heavily influenced by extreme values, the median represents the middle value, making it a more robust measure of central tendency for distributions with outliers. In a dataset with extreme high or low values, the median remains unaffected, providing a more accurate reflection of the central location of data points, especially when the goal is to understand the data's typical value without distortion from outliers. Option A is incorrect as the median is not always simpler to calculate; it depends on dataset size and ordering. Option C is incorrect because the mean is often the preferred measure in normally distributed datasets. Option D is incorrect since the median only considers the middle position, not all points equally. Option E is incorrect because the median remains stable even with extreme values.

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