How Do I Use This Activity?

This activity allows the user to experiment with moving the median away from the mean in a continuous distribution.

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Controls and Output

• The Graph shows a normal distribution. The mean is indicated by a blue line, the median by a light blue line, and the standard deviation is indicated by a red line on either side of the mean. The black circles at the bottom of the red lines and the light blue line can be dragged with the mouse to change the standard deviation and the median. Note that the blue line will not be visible if the light blue line is moved to the same place. The red graphic in the upper-left corner gives the scale of the grid.
  
  
  
• You can also set the standard deviation by typing a new value in the box marked New Standard Deviation and clicking the Set button. The current standard deviation is printed in the label just below the graph. The median can be changed the same way, with the New Median box.
  
  
  
• To draw a histogram, choose the number of trials you want from the choices in the pull-down menu and click the Create New Histogram button. You can change the bin size using the scrollbar.