Which term describes a distribution with a tail that extends to the left?

Prepare for ASU's STP226 Elements of Statistics Exam 1. Enhance your statistical skills with multiple choice questions, detailed explanations, and practice materials. Master statistical concepts effectively!

The term that describes a distribution with a tail extending to the left is known as "left skewed." In a left-skewed distribution, most of the data points cluster on the right side, with fewer data points on the left side, thereby creating a longer tail on the left. This results in the mean being typically less than the median, as the few lower values pull the average down.

In contrast, a right-skewed distribution would have a tail extending to the right, with the majority of data points on the left. A symmetric distribution indicates that the data is evenly distributed around the mean, with no skewness left or right. A uniform distribution, on the other hand, is characterized by all outcomes being equally likely, which does not exhibit any tails in either direction. Therefore, the description that perfectly matches a tail extending to the left is that of a left-skewed distribution.

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