Dispersion Measure Most Affected by Extremes
Which measure of dispersion is most affected by extreme values-
- Range — Correct Answer
- Standard deviation
- Variance
- Mean deviation
Explanation:
Correct Answer: Range
Range is calculated solely as the difference between the maximum and minimum values in a dataset. Because it depends entirely on these two extreme observations, it is the measure of dispersion most affected by extreme values (outliers).
Range — Key Facts
- Formula: Range = Maximum value − Minimum value
- Uses: 100% of items (all values lie within the range) but is calculated from only 2 values
- Advantage: Simple, quick to calculate
- Disadvantage: Highly unstable; a single outlier completely changes it
Comparison — Sensitivity to Extreme Values
| Measure | Sensitivity to Extremes |
|---|---|
| Range | Most affected (based entirely on two extremes) |
| Variance / Standard Deviation | Highly affected (squared deviations) |
| Mean Deviation | Least affected (absolute deviations) |
| Median | Not affected (position-based) |
Why Other Options Are Wrong
- Standard Deviation → affected by extremes via squaring, but not more than Range
- Variance → also sensitive but still less than Range in practical terms
- Mean Deviation → least affected by extreme values (correct answer for that question)
📚 About this Topic — Animal Genetics & Breeding
This multiple choice question is from Animal Genetics & Breeding, Animal Refresher. It has 4 options with a detailed explanation of the correct answer. Practice more MCQs from Animal Genetics & Breeding to strengthen your preparation.
