DA0-002 Data Analysis Practice Question
A data analyst at an online retailer is examining a dataset of customer orders. The 'order_total' column has a mean of $85 and a median of $62. The analyst wants to describe the typical order amount for a presentation to the marketing team. Which measure of central tendency is most appropriate to report as the typical value, and why?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is assuming the mean is always the best measure of central tendency, overlooking the impact of outliers in skewed data.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The median, because it is resistant to extreme values and better represents the typical order in a skewed distribution.
When a distribution is skewed, the mean is pulled toward the tail, while the median remains a robust measure of the center. Here, the mean ($85) is substantially higher than the median ($62), signaling right skew. The median therefore better represents the typical order amount for most customers.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
The mean, because it uses all data points and is the standard measure of central tendency.
Why it's wrong here
The mean is sensitive to outliers, and the large gap between mean ($85) and median ($62) indicates a right-skewed distribution, likely due to a few very large orders. Reporting the mean would overstate the typical order amount and mislead the marketing team about the central tendency of most customers' purchases.
- ✓
The median, because it is resistant to extreme values and better represents the typical order in a skewed distribution.
Why this is correct
The median is the middle value when data is ordered, so it is not influenced by a few extremely large orders. In a right-skewed distribution where mean > median, the median better reflects the typical order amount for the majority of customers, making it the appropriate measure to report.
- ✗
The mode, because it identifies the most frequent order amount and is easy to understand.
Why it's wrong here
The mode is the most frequently occurring value, but for continuous data like order totals, exact values may not repeat. The mode may not exist or may be misleading, and it does not summarize the central tendency as effectively as the median in a skewed distribution.
- ✗
The range, because it shows the spread of order amounts and highlights variability.
Why it's wrong here
The range is a measure of dispersion, not central tendency. It indicates the difference between the maximum and minimum order totals, which does not describe the typical order amount. Reporting the range would fail to answer the question about the typical value.
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Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official CompTIA exam blueprint
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