High School

If the mean of a positively skewed distribution is 126, which of these values could be the median of the distribution?

A. 126
B. 13
C. 130
D. 122

Answer :

Final answer:

In a positively skewed distribution, the mean is typically greater than the median, so the median of the distribution is likely to be less than 126, making 122 a plausible choice.

Explanation:

If the mean of a positively skewed distribution is 126, it suggests that the extreme values, or outliers, are likely Pulling the mean above the median. In a positively skewed, or right-skewed distribution, the mean is typically greater than the median, so we would expect the median to be less than 126. Therefore, the possible values for the median could be either 122 or 126, assuming those values fit within the range of the data set. However, since the distribution is skewed to the right, it is more likely that the median is less than the mean, not equal to it, making the correct choice Option D, 122.