6th Grade · Statistics & Probability

Mean Absolute Deviation

6.SP.B.5

Definition

The average of how far each data value is from the mean.

Examples

  • For a data set with mean 5, find each |value - 5|, then average those distances.
  • MAD = sum of distances ÷ number of values.

Key rule

MAD is the average distance of values from the mean.

Memory hook

On average, how far from the mean?