Find the Mean Absolute Deviation
Written by Adi Ackerman, Head Teacher
"Find the Mean Absolute Deviation" is written for 6th Grade (Ages 11-12), and it covers Common Core 6.SP.B.5.C. If your student is a year younger but already steady on data & graphing, the page still works. You may just need to read the instructions out loud. And if they are older and mean absolute deviation never quite stuck, this is a short review rather than busywork.
6th grade math worksheet: find the mean absolute deviation of 3 data sets like points Jada scored in 5 basketball games. Answer key included. Part of our mean absolute deviation data & graphing collection. Aligned to Common Core standards.
How do I use this worksheet?
Do the single data set page first so students learn the steps. Then use the comparison page to ask which data set is more consistent and why.
What students will practice
- Students will find the mean of 3 data sets, such as puppy weights in pounds.
- Students will write each value's distance from the mean and add the distances.
- Students will divide to find the mean absolute deviation, such as 2.8 or 4.4.
Curriculum Links
Common Core State Standards
Statistics and Probability · 6th Grade
Standard: Summarize numerical data sets by giving quantitative measures of center (median and/or mean) and variability (interquartile range and/or mean absolute deviation), as well as describing any overall pattern and any striking deviations from the overall pattern.
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FAQ
How do I use this mean absolute deviation worksheet?
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Do the single data set page first so students learn the steps. Then use the comparison page to ask which data set is more consistent and why.
What does this worksheet teach?
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Find the mean absolute deviation of 3 data sets like points Jada scored in 5 basketball games. The mean absolute deviation (MAD) is the average distance between each data value and the mean. Add the distances, then divide by how many values there are. The directions on the page read: Find the mean. Write how far each value is from the mean, add the distances, then find the mean absolute deviation. Write the answers as whole numbers or decimals. An answer key is included.
Can I use this mean absolute deviation worksheet for homeschool or classroom?
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Yes, both. We made it for 6th Grade data & graphing, and the page works the same whether it lands on a kitchen table or a center rotation. At home, most families go through it together and talk the answers out loud, and that talking is where most of the learning happens with mean absolute deviation. In class it runs well as independent work while you pull a small group. Print one copy or thirty, whichever the day needs.
How do you find the mean absolute deviation?
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Find the mean, write how far each value is from it, add those distances and divide by the number of values. For 14, 27, 11, 15 and 13, the mean is 16, the distances add to 22, and the MAD is 4.4.
What does a smaller MAD mean?
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A smaller MAD means the values are closer to the mean, so the data is more consistent. Mia's points have a MAD of 1 and Zoe's have a MAD of 5, so Mia scored more consistently.
Is there an answer key?
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Yes. Both mean absolute deviation worksheets have an answer key with every distance shown.
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Worksheet Details
| Grade | 6th Grade |
| Subject | Math |
| Topic | Data & Graphing |
| Standard | 6.SP.B.5.C |
| Pages | 1 page |
| Difficulty | Medium |
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