The lengths of the reigns of 50 British monarchs (in years) are summarized with the following five-number summary: xmin = 0, Q1 = 6, = 15.5, Q3 = 24, xmax = 63
If the maximum of 63 years is accidentally recorded as 630 years, how will this affect the median?
A) The median will increase.
B) The median will decrease.
C) The median will be unchanged.
D) It is impossible to determine without having the complete data set.

Question

The lengths of the reigns of 50 British monarchs (in years) are summarized with the following five-number summary: xmin = 0, Q1 = 6,  = 15.5, Q3 = 24, xmax = 63
If the maximum of 63 years is accidentally recorded as 630 years, how will this affect the median?
A) The median will increase. 
B) The median will decrease. 
C) The median will be unchanged. 
D) It is impossible to determine without having the complete data set.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The median is the middle value in the data set when the values are arranged in order. Since the value of 63 (or 630) is the maximum value, it is not used in calculating the median. Therefore, changing the maximum value will not affect the median because it is not included in the calculation.

The Lengths of the Reigns of 50 British Monarchs (In