Question: Explain when the median of a data set is a better measure of center than the mean.
The median is a better measure of center than the mean when a data set contains outliers or is skewed. Since the median represents the middle value of an ordered data set, it is less affected by extreme values. In contrast, the mean is calculated by averaging all values, so even a few outliers can significantly shift it, making it less representative of the true center. For example, in income data, a few extremely high salaries can increase the mean, misleadingly suggesting higher earnings for the majority, while the median provides a more accurate central tendency. The median is preferred in non-normally distributed data, ensuring a better reflection of the dataset's typical value.
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