STATISTICS

Mean
Mean can also be known as Average. The average can be calculated by getting the sum of the data and
dividing it by the number of data values.
The mean formula is,
𝐒𝐮𝐦 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐚 𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞𝐬
𝐌𝐞𝐚𝐧 =
𝐍𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐚 𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞𝐬
Median
The median is the midpoint, middle, or centre of the set of numbers arranged in order. Consider the given
set of numbers as n. First, the given set of numbers should be arranged in an ascending order. Then,

If n is odd: median = middle number

If n is even: median = average of 2 middle numbers
Median
Example 1: Median for Odd Number of Data Points - 72, 85, 77, 64, 90, 69, 75, 80, 73

Example 2: Median for Even Number of Data Points by eliminating the highest weight
90 - 72, 85, 77, 64, 69, 75, 80, 73
Mode
Compared to Mean and Median concepts, mode is very simple and easy to understand and solve. The
mode in a list of numbers is the value that shows up most frequently.
For example, if '3' shows most often in a list, '3' is the mode. A list can have multiple modes if two or
more numbers appear equally often. If each number appears only once, the set has no mode or every
number is considered a mode

Question: A manager analysed the number of articles written by the 6 writers over 3 months as follows:
6, 4, 5, 4, 3, 4. Calculate the mode.
Range
Range is the difference between the maximum and minimum values in the given data set. Subtract the
lowest number from the highest number of the given set of data values.

Formula for Range

Range = Maximum - Minimum

Question: A gardener calculates the heights (in cm) of 10 different plant species as follows: 35, 42,
38, 47, 50, 37, 46, 52, 44, and 39. Calculate the range of the plant heights.
Standard Deviation
On the test, you are not expected to know the definition of standard deviation. However, you may be
presented with the definition of standard deviation and then be asked a question based on the definition.
To make sure we cover all possible bases; we’ll briefly discuss this concept.
• Standard deviation measures how far the numbers in a set vary from the set’s mean.
• If the numbers are scattered far from the set’s mean, then the standard deviation is large.
• If the numbers are bunched up near the set’s mean, then the standard deviation is small.

Example: Which of the following sets has the larger standard deviation?

A = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}

B = {1, 4, 15, 21, 27}

All the numbers in Set A are within 2 units of the mean, 3.

All the numbers in Set B are greater than 5 units from the mean, 15.

Hence, the standard deviation of Set B is greater

Interquartile range
The interquartile range (IQR) is a measure used in statistics to describe the spread of the middle 50% of a
dataset. IQR is the difference between the upper quartile (Q3) and the lower quartile (Q1).

Here's how you can find it:

Arrange your data in ascending order.
• The first quartile (Q1) is the median of the lower half of the data (excluding the median if the number
of observations is odd).
• The third quartile (Q3) is the median of the upper half of the data (excluding the median if the number
of observations is odd).

Subtract Q1 from Q3.

Formula for Interquartile range (IQR)

IQR = Q3−Q1
For example:
Let's calculate the IQR for the following dataset:
2, 6, 8, 9, 13, 15, 25, 16, 18
Let’s arrange the dataset in ascending order:
2, 6, 8, 9, 13, 15, 16, 18, 25
Now, from this ascending order dataset, we have to find the Median (Q2), the lower half (Q1) and the upper half (Q3).
Firstly, let’s find the Median (Q2): Since we have 9 data points, the median is the 5th value:
Median (Q2) = 13
Median (Q2) =13
After finding the median (Q2), let’s find the lower half (Q1) and upper half (Q3).
To find Q1 and Q3, split the ascending order dataset into two halves:
Lower half (below the median): 2, 6, 8, 9
Upper half (above the median): 15, 16, 18, 25
Find Q1 (First Quartile): The median of the lower half:
Q1 = (6+8)/2 = 14/2 = 7
Find Q3 (Third Quartile): The median of the upper half:
Q3 = (16+18)/2 = 34/2 = 17
Q3 = 17
Now, let's find IQR
IQR = Q3 - Q1 = 17 – 7 = 10
Thus, Interquartile Range (IQR) = 10
Quartiles
Quartiles divide a dataset into four equal parts. While the median divides the dataset into two halves, each
of these halves is further divided into two quartiles.

Lower Quartile (Q1): The lower quartile, Q1, represents the middle value of the lower half of the
dataset. It is also known as the 25th percentile, indicating that 25% of the data points fall below Q1.

Upper Quartile (Q3): Conversely, the upper quartile, Q3, denotes the middle value of the upper half of
the dataset. This quartile marks the 75th percentile, meaning 75% of the data points lie below Q3.
For example: How to find Quartile?
Imagine a dataset of test scores: 48, 55, 60, 75, 80, 95, 85, 70

Firstly, arrange the dataset in ascending order: 48, 55, 60, 70, 75, 80, 85, 95Next, find the median (Q2):
Median (Q2) = (70 + 75)/2 = 145/2 = 72.5

Q2 (median) = 72.5

Next, Q1 (lower quartile):

Q1 = Median of the lower half = (55 + 60)/2 = 115/2 = 57.5

Q1 (lower quartile) = 57.5

Then, Q3 (upper quartile):

Q3 = Median of the upper half = (80 + 85)/2 = 165/2 = 82.5

Q3 (upper quartile) = 82.5

Percentile
Percentiles are statistical measures that indicate the value below which a specified percentage of observations
fall in a dataset.
For example, the 10th percentile represents the value below which 10% of the data points lie.
Normal Distribution
The normal distribution is a way to model data using the standard deviation. It is used to describe data that clusters
around the arithmetic mean.

The normal curve is a graphical model of a normal distribution. The graph won’t be shown on the GRE, but visualizing it
lets you quickly calculate the percent of data above or below a given value using the standard deviation.

The area under a normal curve is 100%.

• 50% of the values are above the mean and 50% are below.
• About 68% of the values are within 1 standard deviation of the mean.
• About 95% of the values are within 2 standard deviations of the mean.
• About 99.7% of the values are within 3 standard deviations of the mean.
Practice Questions
1. The daily temperatures, in degrees Fahrenheit, for 10 days in May were
61, 62, 65, 65, 65, 68, 74, 74, 75, and 77.
(a) Find the mean, median, mode, and range of the temperatures.
(b) If each day had been 7 degrees warmer, what would have been the mean, median, mode, and
range of those 10
Practice Questions
1. The daily temperatures, in degrees Fahrenheit, for 10 days in May were
61, 62, 65, 65, 65, 68, 74, 74, 75, and 77.
(a) Find the mean, median, mode, and range of the temperatures.
(b) If each day had been 7 degrees warmer, what would have been the mean, median, mode, and
range of those 10
2. The numbers of passengers on 9 airline flights were 22, 33, 21, 28, 22, 31, 44, 50, and 19.
The standard deviation of these 9 numbers is approximately equal to 10.2.

(a) Find the mean, median, mode, range, and interquartile range of the 9 numbers.

(b) If each flight had had 3 times as many passengers, what would have been the mean, median,
mode, range, interquartile range, and standard deviation of the nine numbers?

(c) If each flight had had 2 fewer passengers, what would have been the interquartile range and
standard deviation of the nine Numbers?
3. A group of 20 values has a mean of 85 and a median of 80. A different group of 30 values has a
mean of 75 and a median of 72.

(a) What is the mean of the 50 values?

(b) What is the median of the 50 values?
4. Eight hundred insects were weighed, and the resulting measurements, in milligrams, are
summarized in the boxplot in Data Analysis Figure below.
(a) What are the range, the three
quartiles, and the interquartile range
of the measurements?
(b) If the 80th percentile of the
measurements is 130 milligrams,
how many measurements are
between 126 milligrams and 130
milligrams?
5. Husain and Dino had an average (arithmetic mean) of $20 each. Dino then won a cash prize, which increased the
average amount of money they had to $80. If no other changes occurred, how many dollars did Dino win?
6. Janani is 6 centimetres taller than Preeti, who is 10 centimetres taller than Rey.

Quantity A Quantity B

The average (arithmetic mean) height The median height of the

of the three people three people
7. The average (arithmetic mean) of x and y is 55. The average of y and z is 75.

Quantity A Quantity B

z–x 40
8. What is the average (arithmetic mean) of x, x – 6, and x + 12?
(A) x
(B) x + 2
(C) x + 9
(D) It cannot be determined from the information given.
.
9. ab < 0

Quantity A Quantity B

(a + b)/2 0
10. If x is negative, what is the median of the list 20, x, 7, 11, 3?
(A) 3
(B) 7
(C) 9
(D) 11
(E) 15.5
11. If the average (arithmetic mean) of n and 11 is equal to 2n, what is the average of n and 13/3?
(A) 4
(B) 8
(C) 11
(D) 14
(E) 19
12.

Quantity A Quantity B

The median of x – 3, x, x + 3,
The average (arithmetic mean) of x
x + 4,
– 3, x, x + 3, x + 4, and x + 11
and x + 11
13. John bought 5 books with an average (arithmetic mean) price of $12. If John then buys another book
with a price of $18, what is the average price of all 6 books?
(A) $12.50 (B) $13 (C) $13.50 (D) $14 (E) $15
14. Every week, Renee is paid $40 per hour for the first 40 hours she works, and $80 per hour for each
hour she works after the first 40 hours. How many hours would Renee have to work in one week to earn
an average (arithmetic mean) of $60 per hour that week?
(A) 60
(B) 65
(C) 70
(D) 75
(E) 80
15. At a certain school, all 118 juniors have an average (arithmetic mean) final exam score of 88 and all
100 seniors have an average final exam score of 92.

Quantity A Quantity B

The average (arithmetic mean) final exam score for all

90
of the juniors and seniors combined
16.

Quantity A Quantity B

The average (arithmetic mean) of The average (arithmetic mean) of

x, y, and z 0.5x, 0.5y, and 0.5z
17. Aaron’s first three quiz scores were 75, 84, and 82. If his score on the fourth quiz reduced his average
(arithmetic mean) quiz score to 74, what was his score on the fourth quiz?
18. Four people have an average (arithmetic mean) age of 18, and none of the people are older than 30.

Quantity A Quantity B

The range of the four people’s ages 25

19. Dataset A consists of 5 numbers, which have an average (arithmetic mean) value of 43. Dataset B
consists of 5 numbers.

Quantity A Quantity B
The average of dataset B if the average
The value of x if the average of x and
of the 10 numbers in datasets A and B
the 5 numbers in dataset A is 46.
combined is 52.
20. The average (arithmetic mean) of 7 numbers in a certain list is 12. The average of the 4 smallest
numbers in this list is 8, while the average of the 4 greatest numbers in this list is 17. How much greater is
the sum of the 3 greatest numbers in the list than the sum of the 3 smallest numbers in the list?
(A) 4 (B) 14 (C) 28 (D) 36 (E) 52
21. If the average (arithmetic mean) of a, b, c, 5, and 6 is 6, what is the average of a, b, c, and 13?
(A) 8
(B) 8.5
(C) 9
(D) 9.5
(E) It cannot be determined from the information given.
22. A group consists of both men and women. The average (arithmetic mean) height of the women is 66
inches, and the average (arithmetic mean) height of the men is 72 inches. If the average (arithmetic mean)
height of all the people in the group is 70 inches, what is the ratio of women to men in the group?
(A) 1: 1
(B) 1: 2
(C) 2: 1
(D) 2: 3
(E) 3: 2
23. The average (arithmetic mean) of 13 numbers is 70. If the average of 10 of these numbers is 90, what is
the average of the other 3 numbers?
(A) –130
(B) 10/3
(C) 30
(D) 90
(E) 290
24. Town A has 6,000 citizens and an average (arithmetic mean) of 2 radios per citizen. Town B has 10,000
citizens and an average of 4 radios per citizen. What is the average number of radios per citizen in both
towns combined?
25. Fiber X cereal is 55% fiber. Fiber Max cereal is 70% fiber. Sheldon combines an amount of the two
cereals in a single bowl of mixed cereal that is 65% fiber. If the bowl contains a total of 12 ounces of cereal,
how much of the cereal, in ounces, is Fiber X?
(A) 3 (B) 4 (C) 6 (D) 8 (E) 9
26. The average (arithmetic mean) population in town X was recorded as 22,455 during the years 2000–
2010, inclusive. However, an error was later uncovered: the figure for 2009 was erroneously recorded as
22,478, but should have been correctly recorded as 22,500. What was the average population in town X
during the years 2000–2010, inclusive, once the error was corrected?
27. While driving from city A to city B, a car got 22 miles per gallon and while returning on the same road,
the car got 30 miles per gallon

Quantity A Quantity B
The car’s average gas mileage for the
26
entire trip, in miles per gallon
28. Sn = 3n + 3
Sequence S is defined for each integer n such that 0 < n < 10,000.

Quantity A Quantity B

The median of sequence S The mean of sequence S

29. The bar graph below displays the number of temperature readings at each value from a sample,
measured in degrees Fahrenheit. What was the average (arithmetic mean) temperature reading?
 30. Score results on a college mathematics proficiency exam:

Freshmen Sophomores
Number of students taking the exam 120 80

Average (arithmetic mean) score on the exam 78 points 84 points

What was the average (arithmetic mean) score for all the freshmen and sophomores taking the exam?
Give your answer rounded to the nearest 0.1 points
31. Set A: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 Set B: 6, 8, 10, 12, 14
For the sets of numbers above, which of the following statements are true?
Indicate all such statements.
(A) The mean of set B is greater than the mean of set A.
(B) The median of set B is greater than the median of set A.
(C) The standard deviation of set B is greater than the standard deviation of set A.
(D) The range of set B is greater than the range of set A.
32. Three people have $32, $72, and $98, respectively. If they pool their money then redistribute it among
themselves, what is the maximum possible value for the median amount of money?
(A) $72
(B) $85
(C) $98
(D) $101
(E) $202
33. Weekly Revenue per Product Category at Office Supply Store X
Product Category Weekly Revenue
Pens $164
Pencils $111
Legal pads $199
Erasers $38
Average (arithmetic mean) of categories $128
According to the chart above, the average (arithmetic mean) revenue per week per product category is
$128. However, there is an error in the chart; the revenue for Pens is actually $176, not $164. What is
the new, correct average revenue per week per product category?
(A) $130
(B) $131
(C) $132
(D) $164
(E) $176
34. Set M consists of 20 evenly spaced integers, 10 numbers of which are positive and 10 of which are negative.

Quantity A Quantity B

The average (arithmetic mean) of all the 0

numbers in set M
35. The average (arithmetic mean) of 3x, x, and y is equal to 2x.

Quantity A Quantity B

2x y
36. The average (arithmetic mean) age of the buildings on a certain city block is greater than 40 years old. If
four of the buildings were built 2 years ago and none of the buildings are more than 80 years old, which of the
following could be the number of buildings on the block?
Indicate all such numbers.
(A) 4 (B) 6 (C) 8 (D) 11 (D) 40
.
37. Four students contributed to a charity drive, and the average (arithmetic mean) amount contributed by each
student was $20. If no student gave more than $25, what is the minimum amount that any student could have
contributed?.
38. The average (arithmetic mean) of seven distinct integers is 12, and the least of these integers is –15.

Quantity A Quantity B
The maximum possible value of the 84
greatest of these integers
39. The average (arithmetic mean) of 15 consecutive integers is 88. What is the greatest of these integers?
40. Three numbers have a range of 2 and a median of 4.4.

Quantity A Quantity B

The greatest of the numbers 5.4