Numbers can lie, but they can also reveal truth! When someone throws statistics at you, knowing five key numbers helps you judge if their evidence holds up.
Think of these as your statistical toolkit for evidence evaluation.
Engagement Message
Have you ever doubted a statistic that seemed too good?
Mean (Average): Add everything up, divide by how many items. It's like finding the "center of gravity" of your data.
But here's the catch: one extreme value can pull the average way off from typical experience.
Engagement Message
When Bill Gates steps into a coffee shop, does the average wealth skyrocket, drop, or stay the same?
Median: The middle value when you line everything up in order. It's like finding the person in the exact center of a line.
Unlike the mean, extreme values can't hijack the median. It shows you the typical experience.
Engagement Message
In that coffee shop with Bill Gates, which would better represent typical wealth?
Mode: The most common value—what shows up most often. Think of it as the "crowd favorite."
Perfect for understanding what most people actually experience, not just mathematical averages.
Engagement Message
If you're buying shoes, would you want to know the average size or most common size?
Range: The gap between highest and lowest values. It's like measuring the distance from the shortest to tallest person in a room.
A small range means values are clustered together. A large range means they're spread out.
Engagement Message
What would a small range in test scores tell you about the class?
