Chapter 12.5, Problem 48SR

a.

To determine

To find whether you would quote the mean, median, or mode as the "average" salary to justify yourclaim.

Answer to Problem 48SR

Mean.

Explanation of Solution

Given:

The Millersburg school board is negotiating a pay raise with the teachers' union. Three of the administrators have salaries of $\$90,000$ each. However, a majority of the teachers have salaries of about $\$45,000$ per year.

Calculation:

The mean would be quoted as the "average" salary.

The mean uses the larger values to make the lower ones look larger. The mode would show $\$45,000$ as well as the median.

b.

To determine

To find whether you would quote the mean, median, or mode as the "average" salary to justify yourclaim.

Answer to Problem 48SR

Median and Mode.

Explanation of Solution

Given:

The Millersburg school board is negotiating a pay raise with the teachers' union. Three of the administrators have salaries of $\$90,000$ each. However, a majority of the teachers have salaries of about $\$45,000$ per year.

Calculation:

The claim is you are the head of the teachers' union and maintain that a pay raise is in order.

The median if there are more salaries that are farther from $\$45,000$ which will make the median least.

The mode if there are more $\$45,000$ salaries. This makes the mode least.