True or False: The median is less affected by outliers compared to the mean.

True or False: The median is less affected by outliers compared to the mean.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Only true for small datasets
• D. It depends on the type of data

Answer: (A)

The median is indeed less affected by outliers compared to the mean. This characteristic of the median makes it a more robust measure of central tendency, especially in datasets that may contain extreme values. When calculating the mean, all values in the dataset are considered and contribute to the final calculation. As a result, the presence of a single outlier—whether significantly higher or lower than the rest of the data—can skew the mean substantially. Conversely, the median is determined by the middle value when the data is arranged in order, so it remains resilient in the presence of outliers. This property allows the median to provide a more accurate reflection of the central location of a dataset when extreme values are present. While it might be tempting to think that the effect of outliers varies with the size of the dataset or the type of data involved, the basic trait of the median being less sensitive to extreme values holds true regardless of these factors. Thus, the assertion that the median is less affected by outliers compared to the mean is indeed true.

The median is indeed less affected by outliers compared to the mean. This characteristic of the median makes it a more robust measure of central tendency, especially in datasets that may contain extreme values.

When calculating the mean, all values in the dataset are considered and contribute to the final calculation. As a result, the presence of a single outlier—whether significantly higher or lower than the rest of the data—can skew the mean substantially. Conversely, the median is determined by the middle value when the data is arranged in order, so it remains resilient in the presence of outliers. This property allows the median to provide a more accurate reflection of the central location of a dataset when extreme values are present.

While it might be tempting to think that the effect of outliers varies with the size of the dataset or the type of data involved, the basic trait of the median being less sensitive to extreme values holds true regardless of these factors. Thus, the assertion that the median is less affected by outliers compared to the mean is indeed true.