All questions of Tales by Dots and Lines for Class 8 Exam

What happens to the mean when every value in a data set is increased by 5?
  • a)
    The mean stays the same.
  • b)
    The mean increases by 5.
  • c)
    The mean cannot be determined.
  • d)
    The mean decreases by 5.
Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?

Kritika Chopra answered
Understanding the Mean
The mean, or average, is calculated by adding all the values in a data set and dividing by the number of values.
Effect of Increasing Each Value
When every value in a data set is increased by 5, the overall impact on the mean can be understood as follows:
1. Calculation of the Original Mean
- Original mean = (Sum of original values) / (Number of values)
2. New Values After Increase
- If each value is increased by 5, the new set of values can be represented as:
- New value = Original value + 5
3. Calculation of the New Mean
- New mean = (Sum of new values) / (Number of values)
- New mean = (Sum of original values + (5 * Number of values)) / (Number of values)
- This simplifies to:
- New mean = (Original sum + 5 * Number of values) / (Number of values)
4. Impact on the Mean
- The original sum is essentially just part of the calculation for the new mean.
- Therefore, the new mean is simply the original mean plus 5.
Conclusion
Thus, when every value in a data set is increased by 5, the mean also increases by 5. Hence, the correct answer is option 'B'. This illustrates how the mean is directly affected by constant additions to each data point in the set.

In a frequency distribution, how is the mean calculated?
  • a)
    By multiplying each value by its frequency and dividing by total frequency.
  • b)
    By summing all values and dividing by the frequency count.
  • c)
    By taking the middle value of the frequency.
  • d)
    By identifying the most common frequency.
Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?

Srestha Dey answered
Understanding Frequency Distribution Mean
In statistics, the mean (or average) is a useful measure that summarizes a set of values. When working with a frequency distribution, the mean is calculated differently than with a simple list of numbers.
Calculation Method
To find the mean in a frequency distribution, follow these steps:
- Multiply Each Value by Its Frequency: For each unique value in the dataset, you multiply the value by how many times it occurs (its frequency). This gives you the total contribution of each value to the overall sum.
- Sum All Contributions: Once you have the products from the previous step, you sum all of these contributions together. This provides the overall total of all values in the dataset.
- Divide by Total Frequency: Finally, you divide this total sum by the total frequency (the sum of all frequencies). This gives you the mean of the distribution.
Example
Consider a simple frequency distribution:
| Value | Frequency |
|-------|-----------|
| 1 | 2 |
| 2 | 3 |
| 3 | 5 |
The calculation would be:
- (1 * 2) + (2 * 3) + (3 * 5) = 2 + 6 + 15 = 23
The total frequency = 2 + 3 + 5 = 10.
Thus, the mean = 23 / 10 = 2.3.
Conclusion
Therefore, the correct answer is option 'A': the mean is calculated by multiplying each value by its frequency and then dividing by the total frequency. This method accurately reflects the contribution of each value based on its occurrence in the dataset.

In a set of numbers, if the current mean is 9, which combination of numbers will keep the mean unchanged?
  • a)
    Adding 7 and 11
  • b)
    Adding 6 and 11
  • c)
    Adding 5 and 12
  • d)
    Adding 8 and 9
Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?

Nidhi Bhatt answered
For the overall mean to remain 9, the mean (average) of the numbers added must also be 9.
Option A: (7 + 11)/2 = 9. Option A keeps the mean unchanged.
Option B: (6 + 11)/2 = 8.5; not 9.
Option C: (5 + 12)/2 = 8.5; not 9.
Option D: (8 + 9)/2 = 8.5; not 9.
Answer: A

In a large data set, if the mean is significantly higher than the median, what can be inferred about the data?
  • a)
    The data is skewed to the right (positively skewed).
  • b)
    The data has no outliers.
  • c)
    The data is normally distributed.
  • d)
    The data is skewed to the left (negatively skewed).
Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?

Nidhi Bhatt answered
If the mean is significantly higher than the median, it indicates that the data is positively skewed, meaning there are a number of higher values (outliers) that pull the mean upward, while the median remains a better measure of central tendency for the bulk of the data.

If a data set has values of 3, 4, 5, and 6, what is the mean?
  • a)
    5
  • b)
    4.5
  • c)
    4
  • d)
    5.5
Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?

Nidhi Bhatt answered
The arithmetic mean is the sum of values divided by the number of values.
Sum = 3 + 4 + 5 + 6 = 18. Number of values = 4.
Mean = 18 ÷ 4 = 4.5.

If a value lower than the mean is removed from a data set, what effect does that have on the mean?
  • a)
    The mean cannot be determined.
  • b)
    The mean decreases.
  • c)
    The mean remains unchanged.
  • d)
    The mean increases.
Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?

Nidhi Bhatt answered
Removing a value that is lower than the mean will result in an increase in the mean. This is because the average is recalibrated without the lower value, which effectively pulls the mean upwards.

What is the primary characteristic of the median in a data set?
  • a)
    It is the average of all values.
  • b)
    It is the most frequently occurring value.
  • c)
    It is the middle value when data is sorted.
  • d)
    It can be affected by extreme outliers.
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?

Nidhi Bhatt answered
Definition: The median is the middle value of an ordered data set.
If the number of observations is odd, the median is the central item; if even, the median is the average of the two middle items.
Conclusion: Option C is correct.
Note: Option A describes the mean (average), option B describes the mode, and option D is incorrect because the median is relatively unaffected by extreme outliers compared with the mean.

If the mean of a data set is 15 and one value of 10 is removed, what is the expected change in the mean?
  • a)
    Cannot be determined without knowing other values.
  • b)
    The mean will decrease.
  • c)
    The mean will increase.
  • d)
    The mean will remain 15.
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?

Nidhi Bhatt answered
Removing a value that is lower than the current mean (in this case, 10 is less than 15) will generally cause the mean to increase. This is because the remaining values will now average out to a higher number without the lower value pulling it down.

What is the median of the data set: 5, 8, 12?
  • a)
    12
  • b)
    5
  • c)
    8
  • d)
    10
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?

Nidhi Bhatt answered
Arrange the data in ascending order: 5, 8, 12.
Number of observations n = 3, which is odd; median is the middle value at position (n+1)/2 = 2.
Median = 8

If the mean of a data set is 12, which of the following must be true if a value of 20 is added?
  • a)
    The mean will remain 12.
  • b)
    The mean will decrease.
  • c)
    The mean cannot be determined.
  • d)
    The mean will increase.
Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?

Nidhi Bhatt answered
Adding a value of 20, which is greater than the existing mean of 12, will increase the overall mean. This is because the new data point shifts the average upward, requiring recalibration of the mean to reflect this addition.

How does adding a value greater than the mean affect the mean?
  • a)
    It remains unchanged.
  • b)
    It increases the mean.
  • c)
    It decreases the mean.
  • d)
    It has no effect on the mean.
Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?

Nidhi Bhatt answered
When a value greater than the current mean is added, the mean increases. This occurs because the new value pulls the average upwards, requiring the mean to adjust to maintain balance among the values.

When is it more appropriate to use the median instead of the mean?
  • a)
    When data is normally distributed.
  • b)
    When all values are similar.
  • c)
    When data has extreme outliers.
  • d)
    When data is small.
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?

Nidhi Bhatt answered
The median is more appropriate than the mean when a data set contains extreme outliers, as the median is not affected by these extremes. This characteristic allows it to provide a more accurate representation of the central tendency in skewed distributions.

What is the effect of adding two equal values, one below and one above the mean, on the mean?
  • a)
    The mean cannot be determined.
  • b)
    The mean remains the same.
  • c)
    The mean decreases.
  • d)
    The mean increases.
Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?

Nidhi Bhatt answered
When you add two equal values, one below and one above the mean, the overall effect on the mean is that it remains the same. This is because the values balance each other out. Here's a breakdown:
  • The mean is the average of all values.
  • By adding a value below the mean and a value above it, you create a balance.
  • The positive and negative effects cancel each other out.
  • Thus, the mean does not change.

How does the mean change when all data values are multiplied by 2?
  • a)
    The mean remains the same.
  • b)
    The mean decreases.
  • c)
    The mean cannot be determined.
  • d)
    The mean doubles.
Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?

Nidhi Bhatt answered
If every value in the data set is multiplied by 2, the mean also doubles. This is because the mean is a function of all the values, and scaling all values by a constant factor scales the mean by the same factor.

What is the mean of the numbers 10, 20, and 30?
  • a)
    20
  • b)
    10
  • c)
    30
  • d)
    25
Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?

Nidhi Bhatt answered
Mean = (sum of observations) ÷ (number of observations).
Sum = 10 + 20 + 30 = 60.
Mean = 60 ÷ 3 = 20.

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