For which set of data is the mean the best measure of central tendency? a: 10, 15, 17, 17, 12 b: 10, 20, 80, 40, 190 c: 10, 12, 40, 150, 100 d: 10, 15, 19, 17, 2

The correct answer would be choice A: 10, 15, 17, 17, 12

The mean is the best measure of central tendency when the values are close together and there are no outliers. Choice A is the only set with no outliers. The rest of the sets have an outlier which will skew the mean.

Step 1: 6x-10=1; step 2: 6x=11