SAT Math — Problem Solving and Data Analysis

Data Analysis
Mean · Median · Mode · Standard Deviation · Range · Data Displays

Complete Notes + 25 SAT Practice Questions

Strictly aligned with Digital SAT syllabus · Previous Year Question Style

STANDARD RANGE &

MEAN MEDIAN MODE
DEVIATION DATA DISPLAYS
 SECTION 1: MEAN, MEDIAN AND MODE
Central Tendency · Definitions · Formulas · Worked Examples · SAT Patterns

1.1 MEAN (Arithmetic Average)

The mean is the most commonly tested measure on the SAT. It is calculated by dividing the total sum of all
values by the count of values. Think of it as the "fair share" — if the total were split equally.

Mean = Sum of all values / Number of values

Sum = Mean x Number of values (rearranged — very useful!)

Example:

Find the mean of 4, 7, 13, 8, 3.

-> Sum = 4+7+13+8+3 = 35

-> Mean = 35/5 = 7

SAT-style: Mean of five numbers is 12.

Four of them are 8, 15, 10, 14. Find the fifth.

-> Sum = 12 x 5 = 60

-> Fifth = 60 - (8+15+10+14) = 60 - 47 = 13

Weighted Mean — when groups have different sizes:

Weighted Mean = (n1 x mean1 + n2 x mean2) / (n1 + n2)

Example:

Class A: 20 students, mean = 75.

Class B: 30 students, mean = 85.

-> Combined = (20x75 + 30x85) / 50

-> = (1500 + 2550) / 50 = 4050/50 = 81

Effect of Adding/Removing a Value:

Example:

Mean of 6 numbers = 14. A 7th number, 21, is added. New mean?

-> Old sum = 6 x 14 = 84

 -> New sum = 84 + 21 = 105

-> New mean = 105/7 = 15

Effect of Scaling All Values:

Transformation Effect on Mean Example

Add k to every value Mean increases by k Mean=20, add 5 -> new mean=25

Subtract k from every value Mean decreases by k Mean=20, subtract 3 -> new mean=17

Multiply every value by k Mean multiplied by k Mean=20, x3 -> new mean=60

Divide every value by k Mean divided by k Mean=20, /4 -> new mean=5

1.2 MEDIAN (Middle Value)

The median is the middle value when data is arranged in order. It is resistant to extreme values (outliers),
making it the preferred measure when data is skewed — like incomes or house prices.

Step 1: Arrange all values in ascending (increasing) order

Step 2: If ODD number of values: median = middle value
Step 3: If EVEN number of values: median = average of the two middle values

Example:

ODD count: 3, 7, 2, 9, 5

-> Sorted: 2, 3, 5, 7, 9 (5 values)

-> Median = 5 (3rd value)

EVEN count: 4, 8, 1, 6, 9, 3

-> Sorted: 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9 (6 values)

-> Two middle values: 4 and 6

-> Median = (4+6)/2 = 5

Median vs Mean — When Each is Better:

Situation Better Measure Why

Data with extreme outliers Median Outliers do not shift it

Symmetric distribution Either Both give similar values

Skewed data (income, prices) Median More representative of typical value

Need to use total or sum Mean Median does not involve the total

1.3 MODE (Most Frequent Value)

The mode is the value that appears most frequently in a dataset. A dataset can have no mode, one mode
(unimodal), or more than one mode (bimodal/multimodal).

Example:

Find the mode: 3, 7, 4, 7, 2, 9, 7, 4

-> 7 appears 3 times, 4 appears 2 times

-> Mode = 7

Bimodal: 5, 3, 8, 5, 3, 9

-> Both 5 and 3 appear twice

-> Modes = 3 and 5

No mode: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10

-> All values appear once -> No mode

Mode on the SAT:

The SAT tests mode most often in frequency tables (find most common value), bar charts and histograms
(tallest bar = mode), and questions asking which measure is or is not affected when a new data point is added.

1.4 Relationship Between Mean, Median and Mode

On the SAT, comparing mean and median reveals the shape of the distribution. This is one of the most tested
conceptual ideas in data analysis.

Distribution Shape Relationship Real-world Example

Symmetric (bell curve) Mean = Median = Mode (approx) Test scores, heights, weights

Right-skewed (tail on RIGHT) Mean > Median Incomes, house prices, wealth

Left-skewed (tail on LEFT) Mean < Median Age at retirement, exam results near max

> SAT KEY INSIGHT: When mean > median, a few very large values are pulling the mean up. The median is
the better representation of the "typical" value in this case.
Key SAT Tricks — Mean, Median, Mode

Sum = Mean x n
1 Always rearrange to find the sum first. Then use sum to find missing values.

Weighted mean: never average the means directly

2 If groups have different sizes, use (n1*m1 + n2*m2)/(n1+n2).

Median requires sorted data

3 Always sort before finding the position. Most common error is not sorting first.

Even number of values: average the two middle ones

4 For n=6, average the 3rd and 4th values. For n=8, average the 4th and 5th.

Adding the mean as a new value keeps mean unchanged

5 Adding a value equal to the current mean: mean stays same, SD decreases.

Mean > Median means right-skewed

6 A few high outliers pull the mean up. Mean < Median means left-skewed.
 SECTION 2: PRACTICE QUESTIONS — MEAN, MEDIAN AND
MODE
12 SAT-style questions with answers

> All questions are modelled on real Digital SAT patterns. Answers and solutions appear directly below each
question.

Mean Questions

Q1 MEAN

The table below shows the scores of 5 students: 72, 85, 68, 91, 74. What is the mean score?

(A) 76

(B) 78

(C) 80

(D) 82

Answer: (B) 78

Solution: Sum = 72+85+68+91+74 = 390. Mean = 390/5 = 78.

Q2 MEAN — FIND MISSING

The mean of six numbers is 15. Five of the numbers are 12, 18, 10, 20, and 14. What is the sixth number?

(A) 14

(B) 15

(C) 16

(D) 17

Answer: (C) 16

Solution: Sum = 15x6 = 90. Known sum = 12+18+10+20+14 = 74. Sixth = 90-74 = 16.

Q3 MEAN — TARGET
 A student scored 82, 79, 91, and 88 on four tests. What score must she get on the fifth test to have a mean of
exactly 86?

(A) 88

(B) 90

(C) 92

(D) 95

Answer: (B) 90

Solution: Required sum = 86x5 = 430. Current sum = 82+79+91+88 = 340. Fifth = 430-340 = 90.

Q4 WEIGHTED MEAN

Class A has 25 students with a mean score of 78. Class B has 15 students with a mean score of 90. What is
the combined mean score of all 40 students?

(A) 82.5

(B) 83

(C) 84

(D) 85

Answer: (A) 82.5

Solution: Combined sum = 25x78 + 15x90 = 1950+1350 = 3300. Mean = 3300/40 = 82.5.

Q5 MEAN — SCALING

The mean of a dataset is 40. Every value in the dataset is multiplied by 3. What is the new mean?

(A) 43

(B) 80

(C) 120

(D) 160

Answer: (C) 120

Solution: Multiplying all values by 3 multiplies the mean by 3. New mean = 40x3 = 120.
 Q6 MEAN — ADD VALUE

The mean of 6 numbers is 14. A 7th number, 21, is added to the dataset. What is the new mean?

(A) 14

(B) 15

(C) 16

(D) 17

Answer: (B) 15

Solution: Old sum = 6x14 = 84. New sum = 84+21 = 105. New mean = 105/7 = 15.

Median Questions

Q7 MEDIAN

The values listed in order are: 3, 7, x, 15, 22. The median of these five values is 11. What is the value of x?

(A) 9

(B) 10

(C) 11

(D) 12

Answer: (C) 11

Solution: For 5 values in order, median = 3rd value = x. So x = 11.

Q8 MEDIAN — EVEN COUNT

The ages of 8 people at a party are: 14, 16, 17, 17, 18, 19, 22, 35. What is the median age?

(A) 17

(B) 17.5

(C) 18

(D) 18.5

Answer: (B) 17.5

Solution: 8 values, already sorted. Middle two are 4th and 5th: 17 and 18. Median = (17+18)/2 = 17.5.
 Q9 MEDIAN — CONSECUTIVE INTEGERS

Seven consecutive integers begin with n. What is the median of the seven integers in terms of n?

(A) n+2

(B) n+3

(C) n+4

(D) 7n

Answer: (B) n+3

Solution: Integers: n, n+1, n+2, n+3, n+4, n+5, n+6. Middle (4th) value = n+3.

Q10 MEDIAN — EFFECT OF OUTLIER

The dataset {4, 7, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21} has its largest value, 21, replaced by 35. Which statement is true?

(A) Mean increases; median stays same

(B) Both mean and median increase

(C) Mean stays same; median increases

(D) Both stay the same

Answer: (A) Mean increases; median stays same

Solution: Mean increases because sum increases. Median is 4th value (12) -- unchanged.

Mode and Mean-Median-Mode Relationship Questions

Q11 MODE

The following frequency table shows books read by students: 1 book: 4 students, 2 books: 6 students, 3
books: 5 students, 4 books: 3 students, 5 books: 2 students. What is the mode?

(A) 1

(B) 2

(C) 3

(D) 5

Answer: (B) 2
 Solution: 2 books has the highest frequency (6 students). Mode = 2.

Q12 SKEWNESS

For a data set, the mean is 24 and the median is 31. Which of the following best describes the distribution?

(A) Symmetric

(B) Right-skewed (tail on the right)

(C) Left-skewed (tail on the left)

(D) Uniform

Answer: (C) Left-skewed

Solution: Mean (24) < Median (31) -> left-skewed. The tail extends to the left.
 SECTION 3: STANDARD DEVIATION AND RANGE
Measures of Spread · Conceptual Understanding · SAT Patterns

3.1 RANGE

The range is the simplest measure of spread. It measures the total distance from the smallest to the largest
value.

Range = Maximum value - Minimum value

Example:

Dataset: 4, 17, 3, 22, 8, 15

-> Max = 22, Min = 3

-> Range = 22 - 3 = 19

Properties of Range:
• Uses only two values — ignores everything in between
• Very sensitive to outliers — one extreme value changes it dramatically
• Easy to calculate but limited as a complete measure of spread
• Range can NEVER decrease when a new value is added
• If a new value falls between current min and max: range stays the same
• If a new value is outside current range: range increases

3.2 STANDARD DEVIATION

Standard deviation (SD) measures how spread out the data values are from the mean. A larger SD means
data is more spread out. A smaller SD means data is tightly clustered around the mean.

! The SAT does NOT ask you to calculate standard deviation. It asks you to COMPARE datasets,
understand what higher or lower SD means, and know how transformations affect SD.

Conceptual Understanding — What SD Means:

SD Value Meaning Example

SD = 0 All values are identical Dataset: 5, 5, 5, 5, 5

SD is small Values are close to the mean Dataset: 9, 10, 10, 11, 10
SD is large Values are far from the mean Dataset: 2, 5, 10, 15, 18

Example:

All three datasets have mean = 10. Which has highest SD?

Dataset A: 10, 10, 10, 10, 10 -> SD = 0 (all same)

Dataset B: 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 -> SD is small (close to mean)

Dataset C: 2, 6, 10, 14, 18 -> SD is large (far from mean)

Answer: Dataset C has the highest standard deviation.

Comparing Standard Deviations (Without Calculating):

To compare SDs: ask "how far are most values from the mean?" The dataset where values are more scattered
has the higher SD.

Example:

Two classes, both with mean = 75:

Class A: 70, 72, 75, 77, 78, 80 -> values close to 75 -> LOWER SD

Class B: 50, 60, 75, 80, 90, 100 -> values far from 75 -> HIGHER SD

Effect of Transformations on Standard Deviation:

Transformation Effect on SD Effect on Mean

Add k to every value SD unchanged (spread is same) Mean increases by k

Subtract k from every value SD unchanged Mean decreases by k

Multiply every value by k SD multiplied by k Mean multiplied by k

Divide every value by k SD divided by k Mean divided by k

Add a value equal to the mean SD decreases (new point at centre) Mean unchanged

Add a value far from the mean SD increases Mean shifts toward outlier

Remove an outlier SD decreases Mean shifts away from outlier

Example:

Dataset SD = 6. Every value is multiplied by 2.

 -> New SD = 6 x 2 = 12

Dataset SD = 6. Every value increases by 10.

-> New SD = 6 (unchanged -- shifting does not affect spread)

3.3 Normal Distribution and Standard Deviation

When data is normally distributed (bell-shaped curve), the SAT uses the following fixed percentages. These are
given or implied in SAT questions.

Range Percentage of Data What It Means

Within 1 SD of mean
Approximately 68% Middle 68% of the bell curve
(mean-SD to mean+SD)

Within 2 SDs of mean

Approximately 95% Almost all "normal" values
(mean-2SD to mean+2SD)

Within 3 SDs of mean

Approximately 99.7% Nearly the entire dataset
(mean-3SD to mean+3SD)

More than 2 SDs above mean Approximately 2.5% Rare high values

More than 2 SDs below mean Approximately 2.5% Rare low values

Example:

Normally distributed data: mean=50, SD=8.

What % of values fall between 42 and 58?

-> 42 = 50-8 (1 SD below), 58 = 50+8 (1 SD above)

-> Answer: approximately 68%

What % of values are greater than 66?

-> 66 = 50 + 2x8 = 2 SDs above mean

-> 95% falls within 2 SDs, so 5% outside

-> Half of 5% is above: approximately 2.5%

3.4 Interquartile Range (IQR)

The IQR measures the spread of the middle 50% of data. It is more robust than range because it ignores the
extreme 25% on each end.
 IQR = Q3 - Q1

Term Position Meaning

Q1 (First Quartile) 25th percentile 25% of data falls below this value

Q2 (Median) 50th percentile 50% of data falls below this value

Q3 (Third Quartile) 75th percentile 75% of data falls below this value

IQR = Q3 - Q1 Middle 50% Spread of the central half of the data

3.5 Effect of Outliers on All Statistics

Statistic Effect of Outlier Resistant?

Mean Strongly pulled toward the outlier No -- not resistant

Median Minimally affected Yes -- resistant

Mode Not affected (unless outlier repeats) Yes -- resistant

Range Strongly affected if outlier is new max or min No -- not resistant

Standard Deviation Increases (more spread) No -- not resistant

IQR Minimally affected Yes -- resistant

Key SAT Tricks — Standard Deviation and Range

Shifting data does NOT change SD

1 Adding or subtracting k from every value: mean shifts, SD stays exactly the same.

Scaling data DOES change SD

2 Multiplying every value by k multiplies SD by k. Dividing by k divides SD by k.

SD = 0 means all values are identical

3 Instant answer for "which dataset has SD=0" -- all same values.

More spread = higher SD

4 No need to calculate. Just ask: which dataset has values farther from the mean?
 Range only uses max and min
5 Changing a middle value does not change the range. Only changing max or min does.

IQR is more robust than range

6 IQR ignores the top and bottom 25%. It is not affected by extreme outliers.
 SECTION 4: PRACTICE QUESTIONS — STANDARD
DEVIATION AND RANGE
8 SAT-style questions with answers

> These questions are modelled on how the Digital SAT tests spread and variability -- conceptually, not
computationally.

Q13 RANGE

The range of the data set {6, 11, 4, 19, 8, x} is 22. If x is greater than 19, what is the value of x?

(A) 24

(B) 25

(C) 26

(D) 27

Answer: (C) 26

Solution: Range = max - min = x - 4 = 22 -> x = 26.

Q14 STANDARD DEVIATION — COMPARE

Two data sets each have 10 values and the same mean of 50. Dataset X has values all between 45 and 55.
Dataset Y has values ranging from 10 to 90. Which must be true?

(A) Dataset X has higher SD

(B) Dataset Y has higher SD

(C) Both have same SD

(D) Cannot be determined

Answer: (B) Dataset Y has higher SD

Solution: Y values are far more spread from the mean of 50 (range 10-90 vs 45-55).

Q15 SD — TRANSFORMATION

The standard deviation of data set P is 4.2. Every value in P is increased by 8. What is the new standard
deviation?
 (A) 4.2

(B) 8.0

(C) 12.2

(D) 33.6

Answer: (A) 4.2

Solution: Adding a constant shifts all values equally. Spread is unchanged. SD stays 4.2.

Q16 SD — MULTIPLY

A data set has standard deviation 5. Every value is multiplied by 4. What is the new standard deviation?

(A) 5

(B) 9

(C) 20

(D) 25

Answer: (C) 20

Solution: Multiplying every value by 4 multiplies SD by 4. New SD = 5x4 = 20.

Q17 NORMAL DISTRIBUTION

A normally distributed data set has mean 100 and standard deviation 15. Approximately what percentage of
the data falls between 85 and 115?

(A) 34%

(B) 50%

(C) 68%

(D) 95%

Answer: (C) 68%

Solution: 85 = 100-15 (1 SD below), 115 = 100+15 (1 SD above). Within 1 SD = 68%.

Q18 NORMAL DISTRIBUTION — TAIL

 A normally distributed data set has mean 200 and standard deviation 20. Approximately what percentage of
values are greater than 240?

(A) 2.5%

(B) 5%

(C) 16%

(D) 32%

Answer: (A) 2.5%

Solution: 240 = 200 + 2x20 (2 SDs above mean). 95% within 2 SDs -> 5% outside -> 2.5% above.

Q19 IQR

A box plot shows: minimum=10, Q1=25, median=40, Q3=55, maximum=80. What is the interquartile range
(IQR)?

(A) 15

(B) 30

(C) 40

(D) 70

Answer: (B) 30

Solution: IQR = Q3 - Q1 = 55 - 25 = 30.

Q20 SD — ADD VALUE AT MEAN

A data set has a mean of 18 and contains 9 values. A 10th value of 18 is added. What happens to the mean
and standard deviation?

(A) Mean increases; SD increases

(B) Mean stays same; SD decreases

(C) Mean stays same; SD increases

(D) Mean decreases; SD stays same

Answer: (B) Mean stays same; SD decreases

Solution: Adding a value equal to the mean keeps mean unchanged. New point is at the centre, reducing overall
spread -> SD decreases.
 SECTION 5: DATA DISPLAYS AND COMPARING DATASETS
Frequency Tables · Box Plots · Dot Plots · Histograms · Comparing Two Datasets

5.1 Types of Data Displays on the SAT

Display Type What It Shows Best Used For

Dot plot Each dot = one data point Finding median, mode, range; small datasets

Histogram Bars show frequency of ranges Shape of distribution; large datasets

Box plot Shows min, Q1, median, Q3, max Comparing spread; identifying outliers

Frequency table Count of each value Computing mean; identifying mode

Stem-and-leaf Actual values in table form Finding all statistics; preserves data

5.2 Mean from a Frequency Table

Multiply each value by its frequency, sum all products, divide by total frequency.

Value Frequency Value x Frequency

2 3 6

5 4 20

8 2 16

10 1 10

Total 10 52

Example:

Mean = Total (Value x Freq) / Total Freq = 52/10 = 5.2

5.3 Reading a Box Plot

A box plot shows five key values that summarise a dataset:

Element Location on Plot What It Represents

Minimum Left whisker end Smallest value (excluding outliers)

Q1 Left edge of box 25th percentile -- 25% of data below this

Median (Q2) Line inside the box 50th percentile -- middle value

Q3 Right edge of box 75th percentile -- 75% of data below this

Maximum Right whisker end Largest value (excluding outliers)

IQR = Q3-Q1 Width of the box Spread of the middle 50% of data

5.4 Comparing Two Datasets — What SAT Asks

The SAT frequently shows two datasets (as box plots, dot plots, or tables) and asks you to compare their
centres and spreads.

SAT Question Type How to Answer

Which has higher mean? Calculate or estimate mean from the display

Which has higher median? Read directly from box plot or sorted list

Which has higher SD? Check which dataset is more spread out from its mean

Which has higher range? Max - Min for each dataset

Which has higher IQR? Q3-Q1 for each; wider box = higher IQR

Mean vs median -- what does it tell you? Mean>Median=right skewed; Mean<Median=left skewed

5.5 Outliers and Their Effect on All Measures

Example:

Company salaries (thousands): 42, 48, 51, 55, 60, 63, 120

Mean = (42+48+51+55+60+63+120)/7 = 439/7 = 62.7

Median = 55 (4th of 7 values)

CEO (120) leaves. New dataset: 42, 48, 51, 55, 60, 63

New mean = 319/6 = 53.2 (decreased significantly)

New median = (51+55)/2 = 53 (decreased only slightly)

-> Removing an outlier: mean changes a lot, median changes a little.

-> For skewed data, median is the better measure of the typical value.
 SECTION 6: MIXED PRACTICE QUESTIONS — DATA
DISPLAYS AND ALL TOPICS
5 SAT-style mixed questions with answers

> These questions combine all topics and are modelled on the most common question types seen in Digital
SAT previous year papers.

Q21 FREQUENCY TABLE — MEAN

A frequency table shows: 1 book: 4 students, 2 books: 6 students, 3 books: 5 students, 4 books: 3 students, 5
books: 2 students. What is the mean number of books read?

(A) 2.45

(B) 2.55

(C) 2.65

(D) 2.75

Answer: (C) 2.65

Solution: Sum = (1x4)+(2x6)+(3x5)+(4x3)+(5x2) = 4+12+15+12+10 = 53. Total students = 20. Mean = 53/20 =
2.65.

Q22 OUTLIER EFFECT — ALL MEASURES

A data set has values: 3, 3, 5, 7, 7, 7, 9, 11. A new value of 100 is added. Which measure is affected most?

(A) Mode

(B) Median

(C) Mean

(D) All equally

Answer: (C) Mean

Solution: The outlier 100 dramatically pulls the mean up. Median shifts by only one position. Mode (7) is
completely unaffected.

Q23 COMBINED MEAN — GRID IN

 The mean of 5 numbers is 12. The mean of a different set of 3 numbers is 20. What is the mean of all 8
numbers combined?

(A) 14

(B) 15

(C) 16

(D) 17

Answer: (B) 15

Solution: Sum1 = 5x12 = 60. Sum2 = 3x20 = 60. Combined = 120/8 = 15.

Q24 GRID-IN — MISSING VALUE

The mean of four numbers is 17. Three of the numbers are 14, 21, and 18. What is the fourth number?
(Grid-in)

(Grid-in -- no choices)

Answer: 15

Solution: Sum = 17x4 = 68. Known sum = 14+21+18 = 53. Fourth = 68-53 = 15.

Q25 GRID-IN — ADD NEW VALUE

A data set has 6 values with a mean of 14. When a seventh value is added, the mean becomes 15. What is
the seventh value? (Grid-in)

(Grid-in -- no choices)

Answer: 21

Solution: Old sum = 14x6 = 84. New sum = 15x7 = 105. Seventh value = 105-84 = 21.

Score: 22-25 = Excellent | 17-21 = Good | 12-16 = Needs Practice | Below 12 = Review Notes