MEAN AS A BALANCE POINT WORKSHEET

Problem 1 :

A set of data has four values. Three of the values are plotted on the number line below. 

Where should the fourth point be plotted so the mean of the data set is 9 ?

Problem 2 :

A set of data has four values. Three of the values are plotted on the number line below.

Where should the fourth point be plotted so the mean of the data set is 5 ?

Problem 3 :

A set of data has 3 values. Two of the values are plotted on the number line below.

Where should the third point be plotted so the mean of the data set is 12 ?

Problem 4 :

A set of data has 4 values. Three of the values are plotted on the number line below.

Where should the fourth point be plotted so the mean of the data set is 14 ?

Detailed Answer Key

Answer (1) :

Step 1 :

Let us consider on the left side of the mean 9. Two points are marked on the number line. They are 7 and  4.

7 is two spaces away from the mean and 4 is five spaces away from the mean. 

Total on the left side is 

=  2 spaces + 5 spaces

=  7 spaces

Step 2 :

On the right side also we should have the same no. of spaces if the mean is 9.

Already there is a point on the right side of the mean, that is 11. And 11 is two spaces away from the mean.

So we need five more spaces on the right side in order to have the total of seven spaces.

Step 3 :

Now, Just pick a point on the right side which is five spaces away from the mean 9. That is 14.

Therefore, the fourth point should be plotted at 14.

Answer (2) :

Step 1 :

Let us consider on the right side of the mean 5. Two points are marked on the number line. They are 6 and  8.

6 is one space away from the mean and 8 is three spaces away from the mean. 

Total on the right side is

=  1 space + 3 spaces

=  4 spaces

Step 2 :

On the left side also we should have the same number of spaces, if the mean is 5.

Already there is a point on the left side of the mean, that is 2. And 2 is three spaces away from the mean.

So we need one more space on the left side in order to have the total of four spaces.

Step 3 :

Now, Just pick a point on the left side which is one space away from the mean 5. That is 4.

Therefore, the fourth point should be plotted at 4.

Answer (3) :

Step 1 :

Let us consider on the right side of the mean 12. Only one point is marked and it is 15.

15 is three spaces away from the mean.

Total on the right side is three spaces.

Step 2 :

On the left side also we should have the same number of spaces, if the mean is 12.

Already there is a point on the left side of the mean, that is 10. And 10 is two spaces away from the mean.

So we need one more space on the left side in order to have the total of three spaces.

Step 3 :

Now, Just pick a point on the left side which is one space away from the mean 12. That is 11.

Therefore, the fourth point should be plotted at 11.

Answer (4) :

Step 1 :

Let us consider on the left side of the mean 14. Two points are marked on the number line. They are 9 and 13.

9 is five spaces away from the mean and 13 is one space away from the mean. 

Total on the left side is 

=  5 spaces + 1 space

=  6 spaces

Step 2 :

On the right side also we should have the same number of spaces, if the mean is 14.

Already there is a point on the right side of the mean, that is 18. And 18 is four spaces away from the mean.

So we need two more spaces on the right side in order to have the total of six spaces.

Step 3 :

Now, Just pick a point on the right side which is two spaces away from the mean 14. That is 16.

Therefore, the fourth point should be plotted at 16.

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