Grade 12 · Social studies
Compare economic indicators with context practice
Use supplied price-index, per-person and distribution data without treating one aggregate as a complete account of wellbeing.
Opening your practice adventure…
Try a sample
Two groups each have mean income 20 units. Does the shared mean prove their incomes are distributed identically?
- No; different distributions can share the same mean.
- Yes; means list every person's income.
- No; a mean cannot use income data.
- Yes; every individual must earn 20.
See the answer & why
No; different distributions can share the same mean.
An average does not specify each person's value or the spread.
A little hint: Check the denominator, price basis and distribution before interpreting a change in a headline total.
A teaching tip
Check the denominator, price basis and distribution before interpreting a change in a headline total.