(a) Here are the prices (in thousands) for 9 houses for sale in a local neighborhood: \( \$ 290, \$ 297, \$ 299, \$ 303, \$ 304, \$ 308, \$ 312, \$ 313, \$ 314 \). Which measure should be used to summarize the data? \[ \text { Mean Median } \] (b) In Prof. Rogers's class, the 9 students had the following scores on the last midterm: \( 81,133,135,136,137,139,141,142,144 \). Which measure should be used to summarize the data? Mean Median (c) Karen wants to determine which letter appears the most often in her favorite poem. Which measure should she use? Mean Modian

When it comes to analyzing prices, like those of the houses, the median is often the go-to option. This is because it provides a better representation of the data set by showing the middle value, thus minimizing the skew from any outliers—just like a stubborn house that cries, "I’m worth more!" In the case of the students' scores, the mean can be influenced by high or low outliers, as demonstrated by the scores provided. Since there seems to be a reasonably steady increase with no extreme values, the mean gives a good overall understanding, like calculating your class average while trying to impress the professor! For Karen's quest in her poem, using the mode will reveal the letter that pops up the most! Similar to how we enjoy finding our favorite lines again and again, the mode will help her identify those recurring letters, making it a delightful little puzzle to solve!