More than half of adults in U.S. say they lack basic statistical understanding

Re:More than half of adults in U.S. say they lack basic stat... by saulpw on Wednesday August 26, 2026 @03:18AM (#49445164)

After all the average human has one breast and one testicle.

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Re:More than half of adults in U.S. say they lack basic stat... by tails4e on Wednesday August 26, 2026 @03:21AM (#49445184)

Amd less than 2 legs.

If even one person has 1 leg, then the average is strictly less than 2.

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Re:More than half of adults in U.S. say they lack basic stat... by latexr on Wednesday August 26, 2026 @05:09AM (#49445972)

I’ve heard this phrased as “the average person has an above average number of legs”.

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Re:More than half of adults in U.S. say they lack basic stat... by fooofw on Wednesday August 26, 2026 @06:26AM (#49446611)

Wouldn't "the typical person has above average number of legs" or some such be better?

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Re:More than half of adults in U.S. say they lack basic stat... by t-3 on Wednesday August 26, 2026 @07:08AM (#49446926)

Yes, but less pithy. Placing the "average person" next to the "average number of legs" makes it clear that the idiomatic and intuitive sense of "average" that most people have is wrong. The more precise "typical person" doesn't make that same point as well, though an intelligent reader would certainly be expected to be able to read the same from it.

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Re:More than half of adults in U.S. say they lack basic stat... by M95D on Friday August 28, 2026 @11:31AM (#49480056)

Median person?

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