What is what does it mean when the mean is greater than the median?

When the mean is greater than the median, it indicates that the data is likely skewed to the right, also known as positively skewed. This means there are some unusually high values in the dataset that are pulling the average (mean) upwards. The median, being the middle value, is less affected by these extreme values.

Here's a breakdown:

• Skewness: The distribution is not symmetrical. Instead, it has a longer tail extending to the right (higher values).
• Impact of Outliers: Outliers (extreme high values) have a greater impact on the mean than the median.
• Example: Consider income data. A few individuals with very high incomes can significantly increase the average income, while the median income (the income of the middle person) remains relatively lower. This results in a mean income that is higher than the median income.
• Visual Representation: If you were to plot the data, the distribution would have a long tail extending towards the right side of the graph. The Mean would be to the right of the Median on the x-axis.