DA0-002 Data Analysis Practice Question
A data analyst is working with a dataset containing customer ages. The ages range from 18 to 90, but the analyst notices that the distribution is heavily skewed to the right. To better understand the central tendency, the analyst decides to calculate a measure that is resistant to outliers. Which measure of central tendency should the analyst use?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is assuming the mean is always the best measure of center; in skewed distributions, the median is more representative.
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
✓
Median
The median is the appropriate measure because it is resistant to outliers and skewness, providing a better representation of the central value in a right-skewed distribution. The mean would be inflated by high ages, while the mode and range do not measure central tendency effectively for continuous skewed data.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Median
Why this is correct
The median is the middle value when data is ordered, making it resistant to outliers and skewness. In a right-skewed distribution, the median remains a robust measure of central tendency, better representing the typical customer age. It is not influenced by extreme values, so it provides a more accurate reflection of the center for skewed data.
- ✗
Mean
Why it's wrong here
The mean is sensitive to outliers and skewness because it incorporates every value in the dataset. In a right-skewed distribution, extreme high values pull the mean upward, making it unrepresentative of the typical value. Therefore, the mean would not provide a resistant measure of central tendency in this scenario.
- ✗
Mode
Why it's wrong here
The mode identifies the most frequent value, which is useful for categorical data or identifying peaks in a distribution. However, for continuous data like age, the mode may not exist or may be meaningless if all values are unique. It does not provide a stable measure of central tendency for skewed continuous data.
- ✗
Range
Why it's wrong here
The range measures the spread between the maximum and minimum values, not central tendency. It is highly sensitive to outliers and does not indicate where the center of the data lies. Using the range would not help the analyst understand the typical age in a skewed distribution.
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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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