Practice Set · Part 1
Describe Data by Mean Absolute Deviation
Pick up where we left off
Where we left off
Our goal: With my small group, I can find the mean absolute deviation (MAD) to describe how spread out data is — one step at a time, with support.
The big idea: To find the MAD, find the mean, find each distance from the mean, then find the mean of those distances.
Model to copy — Example 1 · Find the MAD
- Find the mean absolute deviation (MAD) of this data set: 6, 8, 10, 12.
- Find the mean: 6 + 8 + 10 + 12 = 36; 36 ÷ 4 = 9
- Find how far each value is from 9: 9 − 6 = 3; 9 − 8 = 1; 10 − 9 = 1; 12 − 9 = 3
- Find the mean of the distances: 3 + 1 + 1 + 3 = 8; 8 ÷ 4 = 2
- The MAD is 2. On average, the values are 2 away from the mean.
Start here
You did these with your group. Now do them on your own — the model above is yours to copy.
- 1
Same stepsFinish what the group started. Use the model above, step for step.
Let's do one together: Find the MAD of this data set: 9, 10, 11. Add the three values and divide by 3. What is the mean? (9 + 10 + 11 = 30, and 30 ÷ 3 = 10) How far is each value from 10? (9 is 1 away, 10 is 0 away and 11 is 1 away.) Add the distances and divide by 3. What is the MAD? ((1 + 0 + 1) ÷ 3 = 2/3) Is this MAD small or large? What does it tell us? (Small. The values are close together.)My first step is ___ , because the problem asks for ___ .
Show your work - 2
Warm restartFind the mean of 10, 14, 8, 12 and 16.
- A10
- B12
- C14
- D60
- 3
Warm restartFour friends have 6, 9, 4 and 5 stickers. If they share them equally, how many does each get?
- A4
- B5
- C6
- D24
- 4
Warm restartA student's first three quiz scores are 82, 90 and 86. What score on a fourth quiz gives a mean of 87?
- A86
- B88
- C90
- D92
Practice Set · Part 2
Describe Data by Mean Absolute Deviation
Keep going
You answered these out loud. Now write them.
Answer, then say how you know — the reason is the part that counts.
- 5
Think it throughWhat is each keeper's mean goals allowed per game?
- Aabout 1.67
- B2
- C6
- D10
Why is that the answer?
I chose ___ because ___ .
- 6
Think it throughWhat does a smaller MAD tell you?
- AThe values stay closer to the mean — the keeper is more consistent
- BThe keeper allowed fewer goals overall
- CThe keeper played fewer games
- DThe mean is wrong
How do you know?
I chose ___ because ___ .
- 7
Think it throughWhich keeper should the coach start, and why?
- AKeeper B, because two shutouts is best
- BEither one, because the means are equal
- CKeeper A, because the smaller MAD (0.67) means more consistent performance
- DKeeper B, because a larger MAD means more skill
Explain your thinking.
I chose ___ because ___ .
- 8
Back to the modelPlayer A's MAD is 2.4 points. If Player B's MAD is 7.2 points, what does that tell you about their consistency?
Player A has a ___ MAD, which means their scores are ___ to the mean. Player B has a ___ MAD, which means their scores are ___ from the mean. The more consistent player is ___ because ___.
Practice Set · Part 3
Describe Data by Mean Absolute Deviation
Words and reasoning
Word bank · Banco de palabras
Use the words
Fill each blank with a word from the bank.
- The average distance of each value from the mean is the ___.
- How far a single value is from the mean is its ___.
- The distance of a number from zero, never negative (zero is allowed), is its ___.
- How far apart the data values are from each other is the ___.
Explain the thinking
- 9
Find the mistakeAnother student made this exact mistake in this lesson. Explain why it is wrong, then write what they should have done.
The mistake: A common mistake in Mean Absolute Deviation is adding the signed deviations (value − mean) instead of their absolute values, so the positives and negatives cancel out to 0. - 10
Say moreTo find the MAD for Player A (18, 22, 20, 24, 16, mean 20), why do we take the ABSOLUTE VALUE of each deviation before averaging?
We use absolute value so the deviations are all ___.
- 11
Change one numberGo back to Part 1 and pick one problem you already solved. Change one number in it, then solve your new version. Show every step.
If ___ changed to ___ , then ___ .
Show your work
Practice Set · Part 4
Describe Data by Mean Absolute Deviation
Show what you know
Last check
These two come from Lesson 2.8. If they are shaky, that is the lesson to revisit — not this one.
- 12
Show what you knowQuick check — you've got this: Data set: 4, 8, 6, 10, 2. The mean is 6. What is the MAD?
- A0
- B2.4
- C6
- D12
Explain your choice.
I know it is ___ because ___ .
- 13
From Lesson 2.8Quick check — you've got this: Data set: 8, 12, 10, 14. What is the mean?
- A10
- B11
- C12
- D44
- 14
From Lesson 2.8Her nine games total 13 points below the target mean and 11 points above it. What must game 10 be for the data to balance at 15?
- A13 points — 2 below the target mean
- B15 points — exactly the target mean
- C17 points — 2 above the target mean
- D24 points — enough to double the points above
Be honest — this tells your teacher what to do next
| I can… | Not yet | Getting there | Got it |
|---|---|---|---|
| I can find the mean absolute deviation (MAD) to describe how spread out data is — one step at a time, with support. | |||
| I can explain why it works: To find the MAD, find the mean, find each distance from the mean, then find the mean of those distances. | |||
| I can talk through each step out loud using a sentence frame and the lesson's key words. |
One question I want to ask my group next time