In skewed distributions, which statement best describes the typical order of mode, median, and mean?

In skewed distributions, which statement best describes the typical order of mode, median, and mean?

• A. The mode is highest, then the median, and finally the mean.
• B. The mean is highest, then the mode, then the median.
• C. The median is highest, then the mode, then the mean.
• D. The mode is lowest, then the mean, then the median.

Answer: (A)

Skewness changes how the three measures line up because the mean gets pulled toward the tail by extreme values, while the mode reflects the most frequent value and the median sits in between. In a negatively skewed distribution (tail to the left), the tail drags the mean to lower values, so the highest measure is the mode, followed by the median, with the mean being the lowest. That gives the order: mode, then median, then mean. If the data were positively skewed (tail to the right), the mean would be the highest, with the mode lowest, giving a different order.

Skewness changes how the three measures line up because the mean gets pulled toward the tail by extreme values, while the mode reflects the most frequent value and the median sits in between. In a negatively skewed distribution (tail to the left), the tail drags the mean to lower values, so the highest measure is the mode, followed by the median, with the mean being the lowest. That gives the order: mode, then median, then mean. If the data were positively skewed (tail to the right), the mean would be the highest, with the mode lowest, giving a different order.