The number of toys owned by eight classmates is shown below:

4, 3, 4, 5, 6, 6, 8, 4

part a: what is the mean of the data? show your work. (4 points)

part b: use your answer from part a to calculate the mean absolute deviation for the data. show your work. (6 points)

Part A: The means also pertains to the average of the data. This is calculated by dividing the sum of the data by the number of data given. Mathematically, this can be expressed as,
               M = S / n
where M is the mean, S is the sum, and n is the number of units. 
       S = 4 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6 + 6 + 8 + 4 = 40
Substituting the known values,
          M = 40 / 8 = 5

Part B: Calculate for the absolute value of the differences of the data from the mean value and add up.
(1)    I4 - 5I = 1
(2)    I3 - 5I = 2
(3)    I4 - 5I = 1
(4)    I5 - 5I = 0
(5)    I6 - 5I = 1
(6)    I6 - 5I = 1
(7)    I8 - 5I = 3
(8)    I4 - 5I = 1

The sum is equal to 10. 

MAD = 10 / n  = 10 / 8 = 1.25

Thus, MAD is 1.25.