Skewed

Definition

Skewed data is when a dataset's distribution is asymmetrical, meaning it leans more heavily to one side. It can be either positively skewed (right-skewed) or negatively skewed (left-skewed).

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. In positively skewed data, the tail on the right side of the histogram is longer or fatter than the left side.
2. In negatively skewed data, the tail on the left side of the histogram is longer or fatter than the right side.
3. The mean is typically greater than the median in a positively skewed distribution.
4. The median is typically greater than the mean in a negatively skewed distribution.
5. Skewness affects measures of central tendency and dispersion, making it important for interpreting data distributions.

Review Questions

• What does a positively skewed histogram look like?
• How do you identify if a dataset has negative skewness?
• Why is understanding skewness important in statistics?

Related terms

Histogram: A graphical representation of data using bars of different heights to show frequency distributions.

Frequency Polygon: A line graph that shows frequencies at each class interval in a dataset.

Time Series Graph: $$Graphing$$ data points at successive time intervals to analyze trends over time.