Imagine in a data set where the smallest value is not the mode. Now imagine if that smallest value decreases by 50. Everything else about the data set remains the same. Which of the following must be true?
A) The mean decreases
B) The mean increases
C) The median and mean decreases
D) The mean and median decreases, but the mode remains constant.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Since the smallest value is not the mode, decreasing it will have an effect on the mean but not on the mode. As the smallest value decreases, the sum of the values in the dataset will decrease, therefore decreasing the mean. The median may or may not change, depending on the location of the smallest value in the original dataset.

Imagine in a Data Set Where the Smallest Value Is