The instructors sample produces amean number of days absent of 3.5 days this value is an example of a
The value of 3.5 days, which represents the mean number of days absent, is an example of a statistical measure known as the mean or average. The mean is a commonly used measure of central tendency in statistics that reflects the average value of a set of data.
To calculate the mean, you would add up all the values in the data set and then divide the sum by the total number of values. In this case, the instructors have collected data on the number of days each student was absent, and through calculations, they have found that the mean number of days absent is 3.5.
The mean is useful because it provides a single numerical value that summarizes the overall trend or central value of the data set. However, it is important to note that the mean can be influenced by outliers or extreme values, so it is often helpful to consider other measures of central tendency, such as the median or mode, to get a broader understanding of the data.